9-Thiaprostaglandins

ABSTRACT

7-[3α-(3-hydroxy-3-hydrocarbylpropyl, or -1-propenyl, or 1-propynyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoic or 5-heptenoic acids, sulfoxides, sulfones, esters or salts thereof are stable, prostaglandin-like acting and antiasthmatic agents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 516,293, filedOct. 21, 1974, (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,670) which in turn is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 460,837, filed Apr. 15,1974, (now abandoned) which in turn is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 361,752, filed May 18, 1973 (now U.S. Pat. No.3,881,017).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns and has for its object the provision ofnew 7-[3αO( 3-hydroxy-3-hydrocarbylpropyl or -1-propen- orynyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-alkanoic or 5-alkenoic acids,particularly of those corresponding to formula I ##STR1## wherein R ishydrogen, one base-equivalent or an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,araliphatic or aromatic radical, A is methylene, ethylene or ethenylene,each of R₁ and R₂ is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R₃ is an aliphatic,cycloaliphatic or araliphatic radical and x is an integer from 0 to 2,or the 1,2-dihydro or -dehydro derivatives thereof, correspondingpharmaceutical compositions and methods for the preparation andapplication of these products, which are useful prostaglandin- likeacting smooth muscle contractants and antiasthmatic agents, but morestable than the easily dehydrating prostaglandins of the E series.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An aliphatic radial R or R₃ represents preferably lower alkyl, as is thecase with R₁ and R₂, e.g. methyl, ethyl, n- or i-propyl, -butyl,-pentyl, -hexyl or -heptyl; lower alkenyl e.g. allyl or methallyl; orlower alkynyl, e.g. ethynyl or propargyl. The term "lower" referred toabove and hereinafter in connection with organic radicals or compoundsrespectively, defines such with up to 7, preferably up to 4, carbonatoms. R₃ also represents higher alkyl, especially such with 8 to 12carbon atoms, such as n- or i-octyl, -nonyl, -decyl, -undecyl or-dodecyl.

Said lower cycloaliphatic radicals R and R₃ are preferably 3 to 7ring-membered cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or (cycloalkyl orcycloalkenyl)-lower alkyl groups, e.g. cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl,cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl; cyclopent-1-enyl or cyclohex-1 or 3-enyl;cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, 1- or 2-cyclopentylethyl;cyclopent-3-enylmethyl or cyclohex-1-enylmethyl.

Said araliphatic or aromatic radicals R or R₃ are preferably isocyclic,monocyclic radicals, such as phenyl-lower alkyl or phenyl groups,unsubstituted or substituted in the aromatic ring by one or more thanone, especially one or two, of the same or different substituents, suchas lower alkyl, e.g. methyl, ethyl, n- or i-propyl or -butyl; loweralkoxy, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy, n- or i-propoxy or -butoxy; loweralkylenedioxy, e.g. methylenedioxy, 1,1- or 1,2-ethylenedioxy; halogeno,e.g. fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo; trifluoromethyl; nitro or amino,such as di-lower alkylamino, e.g. dimethylamino or diethylamino. Saidaliphatic radicals, especially lower alkyl groups R₃, can also besubstituted by one of said lower alkoxy groups or one, or up to themaximum number of halogen atoms, as is the case in trifluoromethyl,2-(methoxy, ethoxy, chloro, bromo or iodo)-ethyl, -propyl or -butyl,2,2-dichloro-ethyl, -propyl or -butyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, 3-(methoxy,ethoxy, chloro or bromo)-propyl or -butyl, 4-(methoxy or chloro)-butyl.

The compounds of the invention exhibit valuable, prostaglandin-likeproperties, especially smooth muscle contracting and antiasthmaticactivity. This can be demonstrated either in vitro or in vivo tests,using advantageously mammals, such as mice, rats, guinea pigs or dogs astest objects, or isolated organs thereof. The in vitro tests areperformed with the guinea pig ileum in a standard organ bath, e.g.physiological saline. The compounds of the invention, when added to saidbath in such amounts to reach concentrations down to about 10⁻ ⁸ molar,contract the isolated ileum. Histamine hydrochloride and prostaglandinE₁ are used as a positive standard and the usual experiments include thecontrol for vehicle and buffer effects.

Antiasthmatic activity is estimated in dogs, who are natually sensitiveto ascaris antigens, causing asthma-like syndroms after inhalation ofsaid nebulized antigens. The compounds of the invention are administeredintravenously 30-60 minutes after antigen-challenge and efficacy isestimated by the change in respiratory-rate and airway-resistance.

Moreover, anti-fertility effects are tested in rats or hamsters, e.g. byadministering the compounds of the invention to pregnant hamsters, forexample 2.5 to 10 mg/kg thereof, subcutaneously once on day five ofpregnancy, and inspecting on the eleventh day the uterus thereof forimplantation sites and surviving embryos. Also smaller doses can be usedfor intravenous or intrauterine administration, or larger amounts fororal administration, e.g. to spontaneous hypertensive rats, whose bloodpressure is monitored by standard means, and is reduced by saidcompounds.

Accordingly, the compounds of the invention can be applied enterally orparenterally, e.g. by inhalation of a nebulized aqueous solution, or byperoral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraveneous or intrauterineadministration, in the dosage range known for the naturalprostaglandins. According to the test results obtained, they are usefulantiasthmatic, hypotensive, abortifacient and luteolytic agents, forexample, in the treatment or management of hypertension, especiallyfertility. They are also valuable intermediates of other preparations,preferably of pharmacologically useful products.

Preferred compounds of the invention are those of Formula I, in whicheach of R and R₃ is alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, lower alkenyl,lower alkynyl, (3 to 7-ring-membered cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl)-C_(m)H_(2m) wherein m is an integer from 0 to 4, or Ph-C_(n) H_(2n), whereinPh is phenyl, (lower alkyl)-phenyl, (lower alkoxy)-phenyl, (loweralkylenedioxy)-phenyl, (halogeno)-phenyl, (trifluoromethyl)-phenyl,(nitro)-phenyl or (di-lower alkylamino)-phenyl and n is an integer from1 to 4, R is also hydrogen, Ph, an alkali metal, one equivalent of analkaline earth metal, ammonium, mono-, di- or tri- lower (alkyl ormono-, di- or trihydroxyalkyl)-ammonium and R₃ is also (lower alkoxy orhalo)-lower alkyl, A is ethylene or ethenylene, R₁ and R₂ are hydrogenor lower alkyl, or the 1,2-dihydro-derivatives thereof, and x is 0 to 2,or the 1,2-dehydro-derivatives thereof.

More active and stable are those 3α,4α- and 3β,4β-dihydroxy- compoundsof Formula I, wherein R is hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lower alkyl orPh'-C_(n) H_(2n) wherein n is an integer from 1 to 4 and Ph' is phenyl,tolyl, anisyl, fluorophenyl or chlorophenyl, A is ethylene orcis-ethenylene, each of R₁ and R₂ are hydrogen or lower alkyl, and R₃ islower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl, (3 to 6 ring-memberedcycloalkyl)--C_(m) H_(2m) or Ph'--C_(n) H_(2n), wherein m is an integerfrom 0 to 4, and x is such from 0 to 2.

The highest degree of activity and stability is exhibited by compoundsof Formula II ##STR2## wherein R₄ is hydrogen, sodium, potassium oralkyl with up to 4 carbon atoms, A is ethylene or cis-ethenylene, R₅ ishydrogen or methyl and R₆ is n-(butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl)or 2-methyl-2-n-(pentyl, hexyl or heptyl), 2-, 3- or 4-(cyclopropyl,cyclopentyl or phenyl)-ethyl, -propyl or -butyl and x is 0-2.

Of said compounds of Formula II, it is advantageous to select thosewherein R₄ is hydrogen, sodium or potassium, A is ethylene orcis-ethenylene, R₅ is hydrogen or methyl, x is 0 to 2 and R₆ isn-pentyl, n-hexyl, 2-methyl-2-n-hexyl or 3-phenylpropyl, due to theiroutstanding activity and stability.

The compounds of the invention are prepared according to methods knownper se, for example by:

a. reducing in a corresponding 7-[3α-(3-oxo-3-hydrocarbylpropyl or1-propen- or ynyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-alkan- or 5-enoicacid, or a functional acid- or hydroxy-derivative, the sulfoxide orsulfone thereof, the oxo group to hydroxy, optionally accompanied byintroduction of a hydrocarbon radical, and hydrolyzing any resultinghydroxy derivative in basic or acidic media or any resulting acid amideor nitrile in strong basic media and, if desired, oxidizing resultingcompounds with x = 0 to such with x = 1 or 2, or esterifying orsalifying any resulting acid or hydrolyzing esters of salts, orhydrogenating any resulting dehydro derivative until the desired amountof hydrogen is consumed.

A functional acid derivative used in the above reactions is preferably ametal salt or an ester, e.g. such mentioned above for the compounds ofFormula I, or advantageously the nitrile. A functional hydroxyderivative is either an ester or ether, such as a lower alkanoic acidester, e.g. the acetate or propionate, but advantageously the2-tetrahydropyranyl ether.

The reduction according to item a) is advantageously carried out eitherwith simple or complex light metal hydrides, such as borohydrides oralkali metal or zinc boron- or aluminumhydrides or lower alkoxyhydrides,e.g. lithium aluminumhydride, sodium or zinc borohydride; lithiumtri-t-butoxyaluminumhydride or triethoxyaluminumhydride; or according toMeerwein-Ponndorf-Verley with aluminum lower alkoxides, e.g. theethoxide or advantageously the isopropoxide, preferably in the presenceof a lower alkanol, e.g. isopropanol and/or a dihaloaluminum loweralkoxide, e.g. dichloroaluminum isopropoxide; or according to Grignardwith an R₂ - or R₃ -metal compound, preferably and R₂,3 -magnesiumhalide, e.g. the bromide or iodide; or R₂ or R₃ lithium.

Any resulting hydroxy or carboxy derivative is hydrolyzed in the usualmanner, for example, a lower alkanoic acid ester of the 3-hydroxycompound, or the amide or nitrile or a lower alkyl ester of theheptanoic acid, with a base, such as an aqueous alkali metal hydroxideor carbonate, or an ether of the 3-hydroxy compound with an acid, suchas a mineral, e.g. hydrohalic or sulfuric acid. Any resultingtetrahydrothiophene may be oxidized to the sulfoxide with conventional,mild oxidizing agents, such as alkali metal periodates, e.g. sodiumperiodate. The corresponding sulfones are obtained with strongeroxidation agents, such as hydrogen peroxide or aliphatic or aromaticperacids, e.g. peracetic or m-chloroperbenzoic acid. Any resulting acidmay be esterified or salified in the usual manner, for example, withlower alkanols in the presence of mineral acids, preferably with lowerdiazoalkanes, or corresponding bases or ion exchangers, respectively.Any resulting dehydro derivative (e.g. A=ethenylene) can be selectivelyhydrogenated with rhodium catalysts or diimine. Said hydrogenation ispreferably carried out prior to said hydrolysis of the 3-hydroxyderivatives, in order to protect the prop-1-enyl double bond.

Another process for the preparation of the compounds of the inventionconsists in:

b. oxidizong a corresponding 7-[3α-(3-hydroxy-3-hydrocarbylpropyl or1-propen- or ynyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-alkanal or5-alkenal, or a functional hydroxy-derivative, the sulfoxide or sulfonethereof, to the corresponding acid, and hydrolyzing any resultinghydroxy derivative in basic or acidic media and, if desired, oxidizingresulting compounds with x = 0 to such with x = 1 or 2, or esterifyingor salifying any resulting acid, or hydrogenating any resulting dehydroderivative until the desired amount of hydrogen is consumed. Afunctional hydroxy derivative is either an ester or ether, such as alower alkanoic acid ester, e.g. the acetate or propionate, butadvantageously the 2-tetrahydropyranyl ether or the acetonide of thediol.

The oxidation according to item b) is carried out in the conventionalmanner for oxidizing aldehydes, for example, with catalyticallyactivated or nascent oxygen respectively. The latter is derived fromconventional oxidation agents, such as oxidizing acids or suitable saltsor anhydrides thereof, e.g. periodic acid, sodium hypochlorite, chromic,ferric or cupric halides or sulfates, manganese IV, chromium VI,vanadium V, mercuric or silver oxide, in acidic or alkaline media. Saidagents are used in the equivalent amounts and/or under carefulconditions in order to prevent oxidations at other sites of themolecule. The resulting acids are, if desired or necessary, furtherreacted as shown under item a).

Another process for the preparation of the compounds of the inventionconsists in:

c. reacting the 2β-(6-carboxyhexyl or2-enyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydrothiophene-3α-carboxaldehyde, or a functionalacid- or hydroxy- derivative, the sulfoxide or sulfone thereof, with theylid of Formula III ##STR3## wherein X is lower alkyl or phenyl and Y ismetallized or etherified hydroxy and hydrolyzing any resulting hydroxyderivative in basic or acidic media or any resulting acid amide ornitrile in strong basic media and, if desired, oxidizing resultingcompounds with x = 0 to such wich x = 1 or 2, or esterifying orsalifying any resulting acid or hydrolyzing esters or salts, orhydrogenating any resulting dehydro derivative until the desired amountof hydrogen is consumed.

A metallized compound III is preferably derived from an alkali metal,e.g. sodium or potassium, and in a corresponding ether Y is preferablytetrahydropyranyloxy or methoxymethoxy.

A functional acid derivative used in the above reactions is preferably ametal salt or an ester, e.g. such mentioned above for the compounds ofFormula I, or advantageously the nitrile. A functional hydroxyderivative is either an ester or ether, such as a lower alkanoic acidester, e.g. the acetate or propionate, but advantageously the2-tetrahydropyranyl ether or said acetonide.

The reaction according to item c) is carried out according to the WittigReaction, i.e. either with the isolated reactant of Formula III, or theprecursor thereof, e.g. by combining the corresponding phosphoniumhalide with a strong base, such as an alkali metal hydroxide, alkoxide,alkyl or phenyl compound first, then the aldehyde or ketone is added.Reaction c) is followed by acid hydrolysis in order to eliminate Y andthe other conversions are carried out as shown under item a).

Another process for the preparation of the compounds of the inventionconsists in:

c'. reacting a corresponding [3α-(3-hydroxy-3-hydrocarbylpropyl or-1-propen- or ynyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-acetaldehyde, or afunctional hydroxy derivative, the sulfoxide or sulfone thereof, withthe compound of Formula IV

    (x).sub.3 p=ch--(ch.sub.2).sub.3 --z                       (iv)

wherein X has the above meaning and Z is functionally converted carboxyand hydrolyzing any resulting hydroxy derivative in basic or acidicmedia or any resulting acid amide or nitrile in strong basic media and,if desired, oxidizing resulting compounds with x = 0 such with x = 1 or2, or esterifying or salifying any resulting acid or hydrolyzing estersof salts, or hydrogenating any resulting dehydro derivative until thedesired amount of hydrogen is consumed.

The reaction according to item c') is analogously carried out as thatmentioned under item c) and the additional conversions as describedunder item a).

Also the functional derivatives, mentioned in this process, are thoseillustrated above under items a) to c).

The starting material used can be prepared according to the followingformula schemes, which are illustrated in more detail by the examplesherein: ##STR4## wherein R₄ is either A--(CH₂)₃ --CN or a group capableof being converted into CHO, such as an etherified dihydroxymethyl(acetal) group, derived, for example, from lower alkanols or glycols,e.g. methanol, ethanol or ethylene glycol, V is hydrogen, an alkalimetal or an ammonium radial derived from a tertiary base, e.g. atrialkylamine or pyridine, and p is the integer 0 or 1. Accordingly, incase R₄ is A--(CH₂)₃ --CN, compounds of Formula X are starting materialsfor the reduction mentioned under item a), compounds of Formula IX arestarting materials for c) and those of Formula XI such for d). In caseR₄ in Formula X contains said group capable of being converted into CHO,and such compound is reduced as in a), whereupon CHO is liberated inacidic media, starting material for b) is obtained. Said products can beconverted into the other starting materials as described above for theresulting compounds of Formula I.

Another method for the preparation of the starting materials mentionedunder item a) to d) is the following: ##STR5## wherein R₅ is said groupcapable of being converted into CHO and the other symbols have themeanings given above. Accordingly, compounds of Formula XVI are startingmaterials for a) and XVII for c) if R₄ is A--(CH₂)₃ --CN. In case R₄ inFormulae X and XVI is said group capable of being converted into CHO andsuch compound is analogously reduced as in a), whereupon CHO isliberated in acidic media, starting material for d) is obtained.

Another process for said starting material is depicted by the followingscheme: ##STR6## wherein W is H₂ or O. The latter VIII is converted tothe corresponding X as shown above.

Finally, selected compounds of the invention, or starting materials, canbe prepared as follows: ##STR7##

In variation to the above procedures for preparing the startingmaterial, VI may be reduced directly to the diol corresponding to VIII(R₄ =CH(OC₂ H₅)₂ and p=0), which is esterified with benzoyl chloride tothe di-benzoate and hydrolyzed to the 2-aldehyde. It is reduced withsodium borohydride, the resulting 2-carbinol reacted with PBr₃, theresulting bromide reacted with KCN and the diester hydrolyzed, to yieldthe compound of the Formula XXX, which is further processed thus:##STR8## and the latter compound further processed as shown above, toyield the 1,1-dioxides corresponding to XXVI, VIII, IX and X (R₄ is CH═CH--(CH₂)₃ --COOR).

The above steps d), j), k), l), n), s), t), u), x), y) and zi) arecarried out analogous to c) or d); the condensations according to e) orm) advantageously in di-lower alkylsulfoxides, e.g. dimethylsulfoxide,followed by acid treatment; the reductions according to f), h) and zh)are performed analogously to a); the etherifications, ketalizations ortrans-ketalizations according to g), o), v), z) or zf) respectively areadvantageously carried out in the presence of an organic acid, e.g.picric or p-toluenesulfonic acid and an inert diluent, such as ahalogenalkane, e.g. methylene chloride; the oxidation according to i) isperformed according to b), preferably with the use of heavy metaloxides, e.g. silver or chrominum VI oxide, advantageously in inertsolvents, such as halogenalkanes and/0r pyridine. The ring-closureaccording to p) occurs spontaneously after acid hydrolysis of thebis-ketal, whereas that according to q) requires first acid hydrolysisto convert R₅ to formyl and the following aldol condensation occursunder basic conditions, e.g. in the presence of alkali metals, theiralkoxides or amides. The esterification or benzylation according to r)z) and zj) are carried out in the usual manner, either in the presenceof a base, e.g. pyridine, or sodium hydride respectively, or of on acid,e.g. p-toluenesulfonic acid. Said intermediates, e.g. VIII, can also beoxidized to the sulfoxides or sulfones, as shown above for compounds I.

Resulting mixtures of isomers can be separated into the single isomersby methods in themselves known, e.g. by fractional distillation,crystallization and/or chromatography. Racemic products can likewise beresolved into the optical antipodes, for example, by separation ofdiastereomeric esters or salts thereof, e.g. by the fractionalcrystallization of d- or l-2-pyrrolidone-3-carboxylates, -3β-acetoxy-Δ⁵-etienates, -α-(2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenylideneaminooxy)-propionatesor α-methoxyphenylacetates, or salts of d- or l-α-phenethylamine,-1-phenyl-2-propylamine or -dihydrobietylamine.

The above reactions are carried out according to standard methods, inthe presence or absence of diluents, preferably such as are inert to thereagents and are solvents thereof, of catalysts, condensing,neutralizing agents and/or inert atmospheres, at low temperatures, roomtemperature or elevated temperatures, at atmospheric or superatmosphericpressure. For example, any generated mineral or sulfonic acid may beneutralized with inorganic or organic bases, such as alkali or alkalineearth metal hydroxides, cabonates or bicarbonates or nitrogen bases,such as tri-lower alkylamines or pyridine.

The invention also comprises any modification of the above process,wherein a compound resulting as an intermediate at any stage thereof, isused as starting material and the remaining steps are carried out or theprocess is discontinued at any stage thereof, or in which the startingmaterial is formed under the reaction conditions or is used in the formof its salts or other derivatives. In the above processes, thosestarting materials are advantageously selected, which yield theabove-described preferred embodiments of the invention.

The pharmacologically active compounds of the invention are useful inthe manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions containing an effectiveamount thereof in conjunction or admixture with excipients suitable foreither enteral or parenteral application. Preferred are tablets andgelatin capsules comprising the active ingredient together with: (a)diluents, e.g. lactose, dextrose, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, celluloseand/or glycine, b) lubricants, e.g. silica, talcum, stearic acid, itsmagnesium or calcium salt and/or polyethyleneglycol, for tablets also c)binders, e.g. magnesium aluminum silicate, starch paste, gelatin,tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and/orpolyvinylpyrrolidone, if desired, d) disintegrants, e.g. starches, agar,alginic acid or its sodium salt, enzymes of the binders or effervescentmixtures and/or e) adsorbents, colorants, flavors, sweeteners andcoating agents, e.g. concentrated aqueous sugar solutions containing gumarabic, talcum and/or titanium dioxide, or solutions of lacquers ineasily volatile organic solvents, in order to obtain regular orsustained release formulations. Injectable compositions are preferablyaqueous isotonic solutions or suspensions, and suppositories areadvantageously fatty emulsions or suspensions, e.g. in cocoa butter.They may be sterilized and/or contain adjuvants, such as preserving,stabilizing, wetting or emulsifying agents, solution promoters, saltsfor regulating the osmotic pressure and/or buffers. They may alsocontain other therapeutic agents. Said compositions are preparedaccording to conventional mixing, granulating or coating methodsrespectively and contain about 0.001 to 75%, preferably about 1 to 50%of the active ingredient.

The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention and arenot to be construed as being limitations thereon. Temperatures are givenin degrees Centrigrade, and all parts wherever given are parts byweight. If not otherwise stated, all evaporations are carried out underreduced pressure, the infrared spectra are obtained from about 1-5%solutions in chloroform and the N.M.R. spectra from about 10% solutionsin deuterochloroform at 60 Mc/sec. with tetramethylsilane as zero.

The base-equivalent mentioned for R is preferably derived from atherapeutically useful base, such as that of an alkali metal or alkalineearth metal, ammonium or a mono-, di- or tri-lower (alkyl or mono-, di-or trihydroxyalkyl)-ammonium, e.g. sodium or potassium; magnesium orcalcium; mono-, di- or tri(methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl)-ammonium ortris-(hydroxymethyl)-methylammonium.

EXAMPLE 1

To the solution of 53 mg of7-[3α-(e-oxo-1-trans-octenyl-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile in 1ml of diethyl ether, 3ml of ethereal zinc borohydride[prepared according to Gensler et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 82, 6074(1960)]are added at once and the mixture is stirred at room temperaturefor two hours. Thereupon 0.1 ml of water are added, followed by 0.1 mlof glacial acetic acid and the mixture is stirred for 5 minutes. It isdiluted with 50 ml of diethyl ether, washed with saturated aqueoussodium chloride, dried and evaporated. The residue is subjected topreparative thin-layer chromatography on silica gel plates (1mm thick),eluted with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:1) and of the two mainfractions the slower moving isomer with Rf = 0.26 isolated, to yield the7-[3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoic acid nitrile of the formula##STR9## melting at 67°-69° after recrystallization from diethylether-n-hexane. The faster fraction with Rf=0.35 is the 3α-OH isomer.

The mixture of 69 mg thereof, 2 ml of methanol, 1 ml of water and 0.2 mlof 20% aqueous potassium hydroxide is heated in a sealed tube to115°-120° for 72 hours and evaporated. The residue is taken up in 10 mlof water and 10 ml of saturated aqueous sodium chloride, the mixtureneutralized with dry ice and extracted with diethyl ether. The extractis dried, evaporated and the residue recrystallized from diethyl ether,to yield the 7-[ 3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl-heptanoic acidmelting at 88°-90°.

The 3α--OH isomer thereof is analogously prepared, Rf=0.36 on silica gelin ethyl acetate, benzene, cyclohexane, methanol, formic acid(20:20:5:5:0.2).

The starting material is prepared as follows: The mixture of 1.8 g of9-cyano-2-nonenal, 1.4 g of 2,2-diethoxy-ethane-thiol and 50 μl oftriethylamine is allowed to stand at room temperature for 48 hours. Itis taken up in 100 ml of diethyl ether, the solution washed with water,dried and evaporated, to yield the9-cyano-3-(2,2-diethoxy-ethylmercapto)-nonenal, showing in NMR spectrumpeaks at 9.78, 4.55, 3.57 and 2.61 ppm.

To the solution of 2.6 thereof in 10 ml of diethyl ether, 3 g of1-tri-n-butylphosphoranilidene-2-heptanone are added while stirring andthe mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. It isevaporated, the residue subjected to preparative thin-layerchromatography on silica gel and twice eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (1:99), to yield the16-cyano-10-(2,2-diethoxyethyl-mercapto)-8-hexadecene-6-one of theformula ##STR10## having an Rf = 0.33.

The mixture of 1.2 g thereof, 0.34 g of ethylene glycol, 30 mg ofp-toluenesulfonic acid and 25 ml of benzene is refluxed for 15 hours ona water separator. After cooling it is diluted with 100 ml of diethylether, the solution washed with 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate andwater, dried and evaporated, to yield the bis-ethylene ketal of the1-cyano-10-formylmethylmercapto-8 -hexadecen-6-one showing in the NMRspectrum peaks at 5.4, 5.02, 3.93, 2.66 and 2.34 ppm.

The mixture of 1.15 g thereof, 30 ml of acetone and 0.19 g ofp-toluenesulfonic acid is stirred for 40 hours at room temperature undernitrogen. It is evaporated at room temperature, the residue taken up indiethyl ether, the solution washed with 10% aqueous potassium carbonateand water, dried and evaporated. The residue is subjected to preparativethin-layer chromatography on silica gel, eluted three times with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (9:1) and the two main fractions having Rf =0.70 and 0.55 are isolated. The slower moving isomer (Rf = 0.55) is thedesired7-[3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile, showing in the mass spectrum fragments of 337, 319, 262,220 and 209 m/e.

The faster moving isomer is the correponding 2β, 3α,4α-compound. It canbe reduced, separated and hydrolized as shown above, to yield the7-[3α-(3α-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4α-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid of the formula ##STR11## melting at 103°-104°. The 3β--OH isomerthereof has Rf=0.37 in the above acidic system.

EXAMPLE 2

The mixture of 58 mg of 7-[3α -(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoic acid, 3 ml of dioxane, 1 mlof water, 4 ml of methanol and 52 mg of sodium periodate is stirred at0° for 24 hours and evaporated at room temperature. The residue is takenup in saturated aqueous sodium chloride, the mixture extracted fourtimes with ethyl acetate-diethyl ether (1:1), the extract dried andevaporated. The residue is subjected to preparative thin-layerchromatography on silica gel and eluted with the less polar phaseobtained from ethyl acetate-acetic acid- methanol-hexane-water(110:30:35:10:100), to yield the corresponding α- and β-sulfoxides ofthe formula ##STR12## having Rf = 0.41 or m.p. 110°-125° and Rf = 0.50or m.p. 110°-118° respectively.

In the analogous manner the 7-[1α andβ-oxo-3α-(3α-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4α-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacids are obtained, having Rf = 0.38 or m.p. 105°-120° and Rf =0.49 orm.p. 96°-103° respectively.

EXAMPLE 3

To the solution of 45 mg of 7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 3 ml of dioxane-methanol (1:1), 50 mg of sodiumborohydride are added and the mixture stirred for half hour at roomtemperature. It is diluted with 20 ml of diethyl ether, washed withwater and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated. Theresidue is dissolved in 2ml of methanol and 50 μl of 2N sulfuric acidwhile stirring and the mixture is allowed to stand at room temperatureovernight. It is diluted with 20 ml of diethyl ether, washed with waterand saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated. The residueis subjected to preparative thin-layer chromatography on silica gel andeluted twice with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (3:2), to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester of the formula ##STR13## having Rf = 0.18 or m.p.88°-90°.

The mixture of 48 mg thereof, 1 ml of methanol and 0.2 ml of 2N aqueoussodium hydroxide is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight andevaporated. The residue is taken up in 1 ml of water and 2 ml ofsaturated aqueous sodium chloride, the mixture acidified with 2Nsulfuric acid and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washedwith water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated,to yield the corresponding free acid melting at 87°-89°.

The starting material is prepared as follows: The mixture of 14 g of7-cyanoheptanal, 38 g of ethyl triphenylphosphoranylidene-acetate and100 ml of benzene is refluxed for 15 hours and evaporated. The residueis triturated with diethyl ether, filtered and the filtrate evaporated.The residue is allowed to stand overnight in the refrigerator,triturated with the minimum amount of diethyl ether, the suspensionfiltered, the filtrate evaporated, the residue distilled and thefraction boiling at 130°-138° /0.1 mm Hg collected, to yield the9-cyano-2-nonenoic acid ethyl ester of the formula

    NC--(CH.sub.2).sub.6 CH═CH--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5

27.4 g thereof are added at once at 10° to the mixture prepared from2.99 g of pulverized sodium, 125 ml of ethanol and 15.6 g of ethylthioglycolate, evaporating the mixture after stirring it at roomtemperature and adding 100 ml of dimethylsulfoxide. The mixture isstirred at 10° for 1/2 hour and at room temperature for 2 hours, pouredinto 100 ml of cold 2N hydrochloric acid and extracted with diethylether. The extract is washed with water, dried and evaporated, to yieldthe 2-(6-cyanohexyl)-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophen-3-carboxylic acid ethylester of the formula ##STR14## which is used as such without furtherpurification.

To the solution of 24 g thereof in 240 ml of ethanol, 1.8 g of sodiumborohydride are added during 5 minutes while stirring at 0°. After 1/2hour, the mixture is poured onto ice water, extracted with diethylether, the extract washed with water and saturated aqueous sodiumchloride, dried and evaporated. Each gram of the residue ischromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and the column eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (1:1), to yeild the2-(6-cyanohexyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydrothiophen-3-carboxylic acid ethylester of the formula ##STR15## having the correct elemental analysis.

The mixture of 900 mg thereof, 538 mg of dihydropyrane, 45 mg of picricacid and 10 ml of methylene chloride is allowed to stand at roomtemperature overnight. It is evaporated, the residue taken up in diethylether, the solution washed three times with 10% aqueous potassiumbicarbonate, once with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride,dried and evaporated, to yield the2-(6-cyanohexyl)-4-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydrothiophen-3-carboxylicacid ethyl ester of the formula ##STR16## showing in the I.R. spectrumbands at 2931, 2855, 2254 and 1730 cm⁻ ¹.

To the solution of 5.015 g thereof in 200 ml of tetrahydrofuran, 900 mgof lithium aluminum hydride are added while stirring at -20°. After 3hours, 200 ml of diethyl ether are added, followed by a few drops ofmethanol and water. It is filtered, the filtrate evaporated, the residuesubjected to preparative thin-layer chromatography on silica gel andeluted twice with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:9), to yield the7-[3α-hydroxymethyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2.beta.-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile of the formula ##STR17## showing in the I.R. spectrum bandsat 3500, 2930, 2855 and none at 1730 cm⁻ ¹.

The mixture of 1.3 g thereof, 10 ml of methanol, 5 ml of water and 2 mlof 20% aqueous potassium hydroxide is heated in a sealed tube to115°-120° for 72 hours. It is evaporated, the residue taken up in 10 mlof water and 10 ml of saturated aqueous sodium chloride, the solutionneutralized with dry ice and extracted with diethyl ether. The extractis dried, evaporated, the residue taken up in an excess of etherealdiazomethane and the solution evaporated after 1/2 hour, to yield the7-[3α-hydroxymethyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2.beta.-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester of the formula ##STR18## showing in the I.R. spectrumbands at 2930, 2855 and 1735 cm⁻ ¹.

To the solution of 1.2 g thereof in 60 ml of methylene chloride, 1.1 gof m-chloroperbenzoic acid are added while stirring at -15° and stirringis continued at room temperature for 48 hours. The mixture isneutralized with gaseous ammonia, filtered and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-hydroxymethyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester of the formula ##STR19## showing in the I.R. spectrumbands at 3455, 1720, 1100, 1060 and 1020 cm⁻¹.

To the solution of 400 mg thereof in 200 ml of methylene chloride, thesolution of 1.6 g of pyridine-chromium trioxide complex are added atonce and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. It iswashed with water, dried, treated with charcoal, filtered andevaporated. The residue is taken up in 20 ml of diethyl ether, and 1.6 gof 1-tri-n-butylphosphoranylidene-2-heptanone are added while stirringand the mixture allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. It isevaporated, the residue subjected to preparative thin-layerchromatography on silica gel and eluted with ethyl acetate-methylenechloride (1:9) to yield the desired7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester showing in the N.M.R. spectrum peaks at 6.92, 6.79,6.59, 6.32, 4.72 and 3.55 ppm.

EXAMPLE 4

To the solution of 400 mg7-[3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 20 ml of ethanol, 100 mg of sodium borohydride areadded and the mixture stirred for half hour at 0°. It is diluted with200 ml of diethyl ether, washed with water and saturated aqueous sodiumchloride, dried and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in 20 ml ofmethanol, 10 mg of p-toluenesulfonic acid are added while stirring andthe mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. It isdiluted with 200 ml of diethyl ether, washed with water and saturatedaqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated. The residue is subjectedto preparative thin-layer chromatography on silica gel and eluted withethyl acetate-methylene chloride(1:1), to yield the7-[3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester of the formula ##STR20## having an Rf = 0.302 andshowing in the NMR spectrum bands at 5.5, 3.67, 2.28 and 0.90 ppm.

The mixture of 82 mg thereof, 10 ml of methanol and 1 ml of 0.1N aqueoussodium hydroxide is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight andevaporated. The residue is taken up in 10 ml of water and 10 ml ofsaturated aqueous sodium chloride, the mixture acidified with 0.1Nhydrochloric acid and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract iswashed with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried andevaporated, to yield the corresponding free acid, which is identicalwith the compound obtained according to Example I.

The starting material is prepared as follows: The solution of 1.1 g of7-[3α-hydroxymethyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2.beta.-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 5 ml of dry toluene is added dropwise to themixture, prepared by adding 0.6 ml of dimethylsulfide to a solution of0.8 g of N-chlorosuccimmide in 25 ml of toluene at 0°, while stirring at-25°. After two hours 0.84 ml of triethylamine are added, cooling isdiscontinued and after five minutes 20 ml of diethyl ether are added.The mixture is washed with water, 0.1N hydrochloric acid and saturatedaqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated, to yield the7-[3α-formyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester, having an Rf = 0.64 on silica gel plates eluted withethyl acetate-methylene chloride(1:4).

The mixture of 1.1 g of 1-tri-n-butyl phosphoranylidene-2-heptanone and20 ml of diethyl ether is stirred at room temperature overnight andevaporated. The residue is subjected to preparative thin-layerchromatography on silica gel plates(1 mm thick), eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (1:1) and the band corresponding to Rf =0.534 yields the7-[3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester.

EXAMPLE 5

To the solution of 200 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 25 ml of tetrahydrofurane, cooled to -78°, 6 ml of1-molar methylmagnesium iodide solution in diethyl ether are addeddropwise while stirring. After one hour the mixture is diluted with wetdiethyl ether, washed with water, dried and evaporated. The residue isdissolved in 8 ml of methanol, 40 mg of p-toluenesulfonic acid are addedand the mixture is kept at 5° C. overnight. It is neutralized withtriethylamine, evaporated and the residue taken up in diethyl ether. Thesolution is washed with water, dried, evaporated and the residuecrystalized from diethyl ether, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-3α-methyl-1-trans-octenyl]-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester melting at 74.77°.

The mixture of 36 mg thereof, 0.5 ml of methanol and 50 μl of 20%aqueous potassium hydroxide is stirred at room temperature overnight andevaporated. The residue is dissolved in 4ml of water and 1 ml ofsaturated aqueous sodium chloride, then neutralized by adding dry-iceand extracted 6 times with diethyl ether. The combined extracts arewashed with water, dried and evaporated to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-3α-methyl-1-trans-oxtenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2α-thienyl]-heptanoicacid of the formula ##STR21## melting at 122°-123°.

EXAMPLE 6

To the solution of 400 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-6-phenyl-hexenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 30 ml of ethanol, 87 mg of sodium borohydride areadded and the mixture stirred for half hour at room temperature. It isdiluted with 200 ml of diethyl ether, washed with water and saturatedaqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated. The residue is dissolvedin 20 ml of methanol, 10 mg of p-toluenesulfonic acid are added whilestirring and the mixture is allowed to stand at room temperatureovernight. It is diluted with 200 ml of diethyl ether, washed with waterand saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated. The residueis subjected to preparative thin-layer chromatography on silica gel andeluted twice with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (4:1), to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-6-phenylhexenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester of the formula ##STR22## having Rf = 0.29 or m.p.63°-65°.

The mixture of 148 mg thereof, 9 ml of methanol and 1.2 ml of 2N aqueoussodium hydroxide is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight andevaporated. The residue is taken up in 10 ml of water and 20 ml ofsaturated aqueous sodium cloride, the mixture acidified with 2N sulfuricacid and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washed with waterand saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated, to yieldthe corresponding free acid melting at 122°-124°.

The starting material is prepared as follows: To the solution of 500 mgof7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-hydroxymethyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoic acid methyl ester in 200 ml of methylene chloride, thesolution of 2.01 g of pyridinechromium trioxide complex are added atonce and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. It iswashed with water, dried, treated with charcoal, filtered andevaporated. The residue is taken up in 20 ml of diethyl ether, and 725mg of 1-tri-n-butylphosphoranylidene-5-phenyl-2-pentanone are addedwhile stirring and the mixture allowed to stand at room temperatureovernight. It is evaporated, the residue subjected to preparativethin-layer chromatography on silica gel and eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride(35:65), to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-6-phenyl-hexenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester showing in the NMR spectrum peaks at 7.22, 6.36, 6.1,5.67, 1.58 and 1.38 ppm.

EXAMPLE 7

The solution of 100 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid in 5 ml of diethyl ether is treated with excess of etherealdiazomethane at 0° for 1/2 hour and the solution evaporated underreduced pressure, to yield the corresponding methyl ester melting at 88°to 90° after recrystallization from ethyl acetate-methylenechloride(3:2).

In a similar manner the methyl esters of the acids illustrated by theprevious examples are prepared.

EXAMPLE 8

50 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid are hydrogenated overnight in 10 ml of ethanol over 10 mg oftris-(triphenylphosphine)-rhodium (I) chloride at room temperature andatmospheric pressure. The catalyst is filtered off, the filtrateevaporated, the residue taken up in diethyl ehter and the solutiondecolorized with charcoal, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxyoctyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2.beta.-thienyl]-heptanoicacid of the formula ##STR23##

Analogously the unsaturated compounds of the remaining examples can behydrogenated to the corresponding saturated compounds.

EXAMPLE 9

Analogous to the methods illustrated in the previous examples thefollowing compounds of Formula II (wherein chain -3-OH is either α or β,and R₅ is β or α respectively), are prepared from equivalent amounts ofthe corresponding starting materials: A = (CH₂)₂, R₅ = H, X = 2:

    ______________________________________                                                            Rf or m.p.                                                No.  3-OH    R.sub.6          R.sub.4 CH.sub.3                                                                       R.sub.4 H                              ______________________________________                                        1    α (CH.sub.2).sub.5CH.sub.3                                                                       0.375A (1:1)                                                                           121-                                                                          122° B                          2    β  "                0.22A (1:1)                                                                            100-                                                                          102° B                          3    α (CH.sub.2).sub.6CH.sub.3                                                                       0.38A (1:1)                                                                            123-                                                                          125° C.                         4    β  "                0.225A (1:1)                                                                           114-                                                                          116° C.                         5    α (CH.sub.2).sub.7CH.sub.3                                                                       0.359A (4:1)                                                                            79-                                                                          81° B                           6    β  "                0.250A (4:1)                                                                           101-                                                                          104° B                          7    α (CH.sub.2).sub.2CH.sub.3                                                                       0.36A (13:7)                                                                           0.23 E                                 8    β  "                0.27A (13:7)                                                                           0.17 E                                 9    α (CH.sub.2).sub.3CH.sub.3                                                                       0.44A (13:7)                                                                           0.36 D                                 10   β  "                0.30A (13:7)                                                                           0.35 D                                 11   α C(CH.sub.3).sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.3CH.sub.3                                                      0.43A (13:7)                                                                           90-                                                                           95° B                           12   β  "                0.28A (13:7)                                                                           102-                                                                          103° B                          13   α                                                                                ##STR24##       0.35A (13:7)                                                                            83- 87° B                      14   β  "                0.235A (13:7)                                                                           0.44 D                                15   α                                                                                ##STR25##       0.46A (7:3)                                                                            NMR: 3085                              16   β  "                0.31 (7:3)                                                                              ##STR26##                             17   α                                                                                ##STR27##       0.39A (7:3)                                                                            0.37 E                                 18   β  "                0.27A (7:3)                                                                            0.29 E                                 19   α CH.sub.2C.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                        0.466A (13:7)                                                                          0.432 D                                20   β  "                0.334A (13:7)                                                                          0.352 D                                21   α (CH.sub.2).sub.2C.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                0.59A (13:7)                                                                           115-                                                                          120° B                          22   β  "                0.445A (13:7)                                                                          120-                                                                          123° B                          23   α (CH.sub.2).sub.3C.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                0.31A (4:1)                                                                            0.61 D                                 24   β  "                0.29A (4:1)                                                                            122-                                                                          124° B                          ______________________________________                                         A = ethyl acetate - methylene                                                 B = diethyl ether - methylene                                                 C = diethyl ether - methanol-hexane                                           D = benzene-dioxane - acetic acid (2:2:0.1)                                   E = ethyl acetate                                                        

EXAMPLE 10

The mixture of 39 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid (Example 3) and 5 ml of acetonitrile is heated to 60° whilestirring and 20 μl of the solution of 121 mg oftris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane in 0.2 ml of water are added dropwise.It is allowed to cool to room temperature while stirring and theprecipitate formed collected, to yield the corresponding ammonium saltmelting at 135° to 137°.

EXAMPLE 11

To the solution of 0.62 g of d-7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(d-α-methoxy-phenylacetoxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 5 ml of tetrahydropyran and 10 ml of methanol, 0.1g of sodium borohydride are added at 0° while stirring. After stirringfor 10 minutes at room temperature 1 ml of 10% aqueous potassiumcarbonate is added, stirring continued for 5 minutes and the mixturediluted with 10 ml of water. It is extracted with diethyl ether, theextract dried, evaporated, the residue subjected to preparativethin-layer chromatography on silica gel and eluted twice with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (3:2), to yield as slower moving member thel-7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester having Rf=0.18, m.p. 47°-50° and [α]₂₅ ^(D) = -7.94° ±0.25°.

The faster moving d-3β-hydroxy-isomer thereof has Rf = 0.31, m.p.96°-99° and [α]₂₅ ^(D) = +13.94° ± 0.19°.

Said esters are hydrolyzed as previously described, to yield thecorresponding acids:

3β-- OH: m.p. 102°-103°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) -8.15°

3α-- oh: m.p. 106°-108°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) = +6.85°

The starting material is prepared as follows: The mixture of 0.45 g of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester (Example 3), 10 ml of tetrahydrofurane, 3 ml of waterand 0.1 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid is stirred at room temperature overnight. It is diluted with 20 ml of diethyl ether, washed with water,dried and evaporated. The residue is preparatively chromatographed onsilica gel and eluted with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:4), toyield the corresponding free 4β-hydroxy compound having Rf=0.24.

To the solution of 0.13 g thereof in 1 ml of pyridine, 0.4 g ofd-α-methoxy-phenylacetyl chloride are added dropwise at 0° whilestirring, and stirring is continued for 5 hours at room temperature. Themixture is diluted with 20 ml of diethyl ether, washed with water, 0.5 Nhydrochloric acid and again water, dried and evaporated. The residue ischromatographed on silica gel-plates (1mm thick) and eluted twice withethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:24), to yield as the slower movingfraction the d-7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(d-α-methoxy-phenylacetoxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester having Rf=0.213, m.p. 80°-81° (from diethyl ether) and[α]₂₅ ^(D) = +45.72° ± 0.19°.

The faster moving 1-diastereomer with Rf=0.32, m.p. 63°-65° and [α]₂₅^(D) = 0.0° is analogously reduced and hydrolyzed, to yield thecorresponding 3α and β-hydroxy-esters and -acids:

3α--OH ester: Rf=0.31; m.p. 96°-98°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) = 11.21 ± 0.18°

3α--oh acid: m.p. 110°-112°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) = -9.05°

3β--oh ester: Rf=0.18; m.p. 42-48°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) = +10.71° ± 0.09°

3β--oh acid: m.p. 102°-103°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) = +7.3°

EXAMPLE 12

To the solution of 0.524 g of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 40 ml of tetrahydrofuran-ethanol (3:5), 0.116 g ofsodium borohydride are added and the mixture stirred for half hour atroom temperature. It is diluted with 300 ml of diethyl ether, washedwith water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated.The residue is dissolved in 10 ml of methanol, 20 mg ofp-toluenesulfonic acid are added and the mixture is allowed to stand atroom temperature overnight. 50 ml of triethylamine are added, themixture is evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue isextracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washed with water, driedand evaporated. The residue is subjected to preparative thin-layerchromotography on silica gel and eluted once with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (13:7), to yield as the slower movingfraction the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester of the formula ##STR28## having Rf=0.28 and showing inthe NMR spectrum bands at 0.88, 1.22, 1.36, 2.29, 3.68 and 5.61 ppm.

The mixture of 147 mg thereof, 3 ml of methanol and 1 ml of 1N aqueoussodium hydroxide is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight andevaporated. The residue is taken up in 5 ml of water and 5 ml ofsaturated aqueous sodium chloride, the mixture acidified with 2Nsulfuric acid and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washedwith water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated,to yield the corresponding free acid which, on crystallization frommethylene chloride-diethyl ether melts at 102°-103°.

The starting material is prepared as follows: To the solution of 5.9 gof7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-hydroxymethyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester (Example 3) in 1lt. of methylene chloride, 24 g ofpyridine-chromium trioxide complex are added at once and the mixture isstirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. It is washed with water,dried, treated with charcoal, filtered and evaporated. The residue isrecrystallized from diethyl ether, to yield7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-formyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester.

The mixture of 0.5 g thereof, 0.665 g of1-tri-n-butylphosphoranylidene-3,3-dimethyl-2-heptanone and 20 ml ofdimethyl ether is stirred at room temperature overnight. The crystallinematerial is filtered off, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester. The filtrates are evaporated and each gram of theresidue is chromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and the column elutedwith ethyl acetate-chloroform (1:9), to yield more of the samecrystalline material obtained above. It melts after recrystallizationfrom tetrahydrofuranediethyl ether at 106°-107°.

EXAMPLE 13

To the solution of 0.129 g of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid in 20 ml of acetonitrile, 0.3 ml of N aqueous sodium hydroxide areadded dropwise at 60° while stirring vigorously. The mixture is allowedto cool slowly to room temperature, the fine white solid is filtered offand recrystallized from ethanol-ethyl acetate, to yield thecorresponding sodium salt melting at 164°-167°.

Analogously the ammonium salt of said acid andtris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane is prepared as a gummy material.

EXAMPLE 14

To the suspension of 5 g of (2-hydroxy-1-heptyl)-triphenyl-phosphoniumiodide in 20 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran, 9.4 ml of 2.24 molar methyllithium in diethyl ether are added over a period of two minutes whilestirring under nitrogen. The mixture is cooled and maintained at -25°,for 30 minutes, cooled to -78° and the solution of 3.9 g of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-formyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester (Example 12) in 5 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added atonce. After 5 minutes stirring at -78° the mixture is warmed to 0° for30 minutes and poured into water. It is extracted with diethyl ether,the extract dried and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in 15 ml ofmethanol, 50 mg of p-toluene sulfonic acid are added and the mixture isallowed to stand at room temperature overnight. 0.1 ml of triethylamineare added the mixture evaporated, the residue taken up in diethyl etherand the solution washed with water, dried and evaporated. The residue issubjected to preparative thin layer chromotography on silica gel andeluted twice with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (3:2), to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester, which is identical with that obtained according toExample 3.

EXAMPLE 15

The mixture of 0.36 g of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2-thienyl]-heptanal,0.75 g of silver (II) oxide, 9 ml of tetrahydrofuran and 1 ml of wateris stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. It is cooled to 0° and 10ml of 2N sulfuric acid are added while stirring. After 10 minutes thesolids are filtered off and washed 5 times with 5 ml of tetrahydrofuraneach. The combined filtrate is extracted twice with 50 ml of diethylether, the extract washed throughly with water until neutral, dried andevaporated. The residue is dissolved in 1 ml of diethyl ether, seededwith7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptonicacid and allowed to stand in the refrigerator overnight, to yield andcompound identical with that obtained according to Example 12.

The starting material is prepared as follows: The mixture of 13.9 g of7-cyanohepanal, 6.2 g of ethylene glycol, 100 ml of benzene and 50 mg ofp-toluenesulfonic acid is refluxed for 2 hours on a water separator. Itis washed with 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate, dried, filtered andevaporated, to yield the 7-cyanoheptanal ethylene acetal, showingNMR-bands at 2.3, 3.85, 4.8 ppm.

The solution of 40 g thereof in 500 ml of benzene is cooled to 15° and150 ml of 24.8% di-isobutylaluminum hydride in hexane are added dropwisewhile stirring under nitrogen and the temperature is kept below 20° C.Stirring is continued for 1/2 hour at 15°, the mixture further cooled to0°, 20g of ice are added and stirring is continued 5 minutes. Thereupon2N aqueous sulfuric acid is added dropwise to reach a pH=3 and themixture is stirred at room temperature for 1/2 hour. The organic layeris separated, washed with 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate and water,dried and evaporated. The residue is distilled and the fraction boilingat 105°/0.2 mm Hg collected, to yield the monoethylene acetal of the1,8-octane dial.

The mixture of 25.7 g thereof, 45 g oftriphenylphosphoranylidene-acetonitrile and 400 ml of benzene isrefluxed for 15 hours and evaporated. The residue is triturated withdiethyl ether, filtered and the filtrate evaporated. The residue isallowed to stand overnight in the refrigerator, triturated with theminimum amount of diethyl ether, the suspension filtered, the filtrateevaporated, the residue distilled and the fraction boiling at139°-141°/0.1 mm Hg collected, to yield the 9-cyano-8-nonenal ethyleneacetal.

10.51 g thereof are added at once at 10° to the stirred mixture,prepared from 1.15 g of pulverized sodium, 90 ml of ethanol and 6.16 gof ethyl thioglycolate and evaporating the mixture after stirring it atroom temperature for 15 minutes. The residue is taken up in 15 ml ofdimethylsulfoxide, the mixture stirred at 0° for 1/2 hour and at roomtemperature for two hours. It is poured into 100 ml of cold 2Nhydrochloric acid and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract iswashed with water, dried and evaporated, to yield the7-(3-cyano-4-oxo-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-heptanol ethylene acetal, showingin the IR-spectrum bands at 2250, 2221, 1743, 1732 cm⁻ ¹.

To the solution of 14.15 g thereof in 140 ml of ethanol, 0.95 mg ofsodium borohydride are added during 5 minutes while stirring at -6°.After 15 minutes the mixture is poured into ice water, extracted withdiethyl ether, the extract washed with water and saturated aqueoussodium chloride, dried and evaporated. Each gram of the residue ischromotographed on 30 g of silica gel and the column eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (1:2), to yield the7-(3-cyano-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-heptanol ethylene acetalshowing NMR-bands at 1.65, 3.91, 4.86 ppm.

The mixture of 2.034 g thereof, 1.19 g of dihydropyrane, 0.1 g of picricacid and 50 ml of methylene chloride is allowed to stand at roomtemperature over night. It is diluted with 100 ml of diethyl ether, thesolution washed three times with 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate, oncewith water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated,to yield the7-[3-cyano-4-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-heptanalethylene acetal showing in the IR-spectrum bands at 2930, 2855, 2254cm.sup.⁻¹.

To the mixture of 1.035 g thereof, 40 ml of benzene, 10 ml of diethylether, 2 ml of 24.8% di-isobutylaluminum hydride in hexane are addeddropwise while stirring at -5° under nitrogen. After one hour 10 g ofice and 1 ml of acetic acid are added, the mixture is stirred at 0° for15 minutes, the organic layer separated and washed with 10% aqueouspotassium bicarbonate, water, dried and evaporated. Each gram of residueis chromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and the column eluted withethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:19), to yield the7-(3-formyl-4-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-heptanalethylene acetal showing in the IR spectrum bands at 2731, 1726, 1468,1452 cm.sup.⁻¹.

The mixture of 0.8 g thereof, 1.02 g of1-tri-n-butylphosphoranylidene-3,3-dimethyl-2-heptanone and 50 ml ofdiethyl ether is stirred under nitrogen at room temperature overnightand evaporated. Each gram of residue is chromotographed on 30 g ofsilica gel and the column is eluted with ethyl acetate-methylenechloride (1:19), to yield the7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-transoctenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanalethylene acetal showing NMR-bands at 0.86, 6.0, 6.26, 6.65 ppm.

The mixture of 490 mg thereof, 350 mg of m-chloroperbenzoic acid and 5ml of methylene chloride is stirred at room temperature for 15 hours.The precipitate is filtered, the filtrate diluted with 20 ml of diethylether and washed with 10% aqueous sodium sulfite, water, 10% aqueouspotassium bicarbonate and water, dried and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanalethylene acetal showing NMR-bands at 0.86, 1.30, 1.57 ppm.

To the solution of 450 mg thereof in 20 ml of ethanol, 100 mg of sodiumborohydride are added and the mixture stirred for half hour at 0°. It isdiluted with 200 ml of diethyl ether, washed with water and saturatedsodium chloride, dried and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in 50 mlof 60% aqueous acetic acid and the mixture stirred at room temperaturefor 24 hours. It is evaporated under reduced pressure, the residuetriturated with diethyl ether, the solution washed with 10% aqueouspotassium bicarbonate, dried and evaporated, to yield7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2-thienyl]-heptanalshowing NMR-bands at 0.9, 5.7, 9.8 ppm.

EXAMPLE 16

To the solution of 95 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid methyl ester in 3 ml of tetrahydrofuran-ethanol (1:1) 50 mg ofsodium borohydride are added and the mixture stirred for half hour atroom temperature. It is diluted with 20 ml of diethyl ether, washed withwater and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated. Theresidue is dissolved in 2 ml of methanol and 50 ml of 2N sulfuric acidare added while stirring and the mixture is allowed to stand at roomtemperature over night. It is diluted with 20 ml of diethyl ether,washed with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried andevaporated. The residue is subjected to preparative thin-layerchromatography on silica gel and eluted twice with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (3:2), to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid methyl ester of the formula ##STR29## showing in the IR-spectrumbands at 2930, 2860 and 1725 cm.sup.⁻¹.

The mixture of 50 mg thereof, 1 ml of methanol and 0.2 ml of 2N aqueoussodium hydroxide is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight andevaporated. The residue is taken up in 1 ml of water and 2 ml ofsaturated aqueous sodium chloride, the mixture acidified with 2Nsulfuric acid and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washedwith water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated,to yield the corresponding free acid.

The starting material is prepared as follows: 8.65 g of ethyl4,4-diethoxycrotonate are added at once at 0° to the mixture preparedfrom 1 g of pulverized sodium, 40 ml of ethanol and 4.94 ml of ethylthioglycolate, evaporating the mixture after stirring it at roomtemperature and adding 43 ml of dimethylsulfoxide and 20 ml ofdimethylformamide. The mixture is stirred at 0° for 1/2 hour and at roomtemperature for 2 hours, poored into cold water and extracted withdiethyl ether. The aqueous layer is acidified with 21.7 ml of cold 2Nhydrochloric acid and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract is driedand evaporated, to yield the ethyl2-diethoxymethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophene-3-carboxylate showing in theIR spectrum-bands at 1750, 1725, 1660, 1615 cm.sup.⁻¹.

36.96 g thereof are added dropwise to a suspension of 5.1 g of sodiumborohydride in 400 ml of ethanol, the mixture is cooled so that thetemperature is kept below -60°. Stirring is continued for 1/2 hour, themixture diluted with 1000 ml of diethyl ether, washed with cold waterdried and evaporated, to yield the ethyl2-diethoxymethyl-4-hydroxy-tetrahydrothiophene-3-carboxylate showing inthe NMR spectrum bands at δ=1.25, 2.2 and 3.65.

To the solution of 5 g thereof in 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran, cooled to0°, 0.68 g of lithium aluminum hydride are added in portions over a 5minute period. The mixture is stirred at 0° for 1/2 hour diluted with afew drops of water and 50 ml of diethyl ether and filtered. The filtrateis dried and evaporated, to yield the2-diethoxymethyl-4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydrothiophene showingin the IR spectrum-bands at 3610 and 3420 cm.sup.⁻¹.

The mixture of 0.995 g thereof, 4 ml of pyridine and 1.25 g of benzoylchloride is stirred at 0° for 15 minutes and at room temperature for 4hours. It is diluted with 2 ml of water, extracted with diethyl ether,the extract washed with water, N hydrochloric acid, 10% aqueouspotassium carbonate, dried and evaporated, to yield the4-benzoyloxy-3-benzoyloxymethyl-2-diethoxymethyl-tetrahydrothiopheneshowing in the NMR-spectrum bands at δ=1.2, 3.0, 3.65, 4.5, 7.4 and 8.1

The mixture of 2.98 g thereof, 54 ml of acetic acid and 36 ml of wateris heated to 60°-70° while stirring for 24 hours. It is evaporated, theresidue extracted with diethyl ether, the extract washed with water and10% potassium bicarbonate, dried and evaporated, to yield the4-benzoyloxy-3-benzoyloxymethyl-2-carboxaldehyde showing in theNMR-spectrum bands at δ=7.4, 8.0 and 9.5.

To the solution of 119 mg thereof in 2 ml of ethanol, cooled at 0°, 38mg of sodium borohydride are added at once and the mixture is stirredfor 1/2 hour. It is extracted with diethyl ether, washed with water,dried and evaporated, to yield the4-benzoyloxy-3-benzoyloxymethyl-2-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydrothiopheneshowing in the NMR-spectrum bands at δ=3.7, 4.1, 9.6, 7.4 and 8.0.

The mixture of 179 mg thereof, 25 ml of pyridine and 1 ml of toluene isadded dropwise to that of 49 mg phosphorus tribromide, 3 ml of benzeneand 1 ml of toluene, cooled to -5° while stirring. During the additionthe temperature is kept below -3° and stirring is continued at -5° for 1hour and at room temperature overnight. The mixture is extracted withdiethyl ether, washed with water, dried and evaporated, to yield the4-benzoyloxy-3-benzoyloxymethyl-2-bromomethyl-tetrahydrothiopheneshowing in the NMR-spectrum bands at δ=3.7, 4.6, 7.5 and 8.1

The mixture of 100 mg thereof, 2 ml of dimethylsulfoxide and 50 mg ofpotassium cyanide is stirred at room temperature overnight. It isextracted with diethyl ether, washed with water, dried and evaporated,to yield theα-(4-benzoyloxy-3-benzoyloxymethyl-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-acetonitrile.

The mixture of 100 mg thereof, 2 ml of methanol and 0.5 ml of 10%aqueous potassium carbonate is stirred at room temperature for 1 hour.It is concentrated, the concentrate is extracted with diethyl ether, theextract dried and evaporated, to yieldα-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-acetonitrile.

The mixture of 100 mg thereof, 1 ml of 2,2-dimethoxypropane and 10 mg ofp-toluenesulfonic acid is refluxed for 1 hour. 20 μl of triethylamineare added and the mixture is evaporated. The residue is extracted withdiethyl ether, the extract washed with water, dried and evaporated, toyield the acetonide of theα-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-acetonitrile.

The mixture of 210 mg thereof, 175 mg of m-chloroperbenzoic acid and 5ml of methylene chloride is stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. Itis saturated with gaseous ammonia, diluted with 10 ml of diethyl ether,washed with water, 10% sodium bisulfite, water, dried and evaporated toyield the acetonide of theα-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-1,1-dioxo-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)acetonitrile.

To the solution of 240 mg thereof in 5 mg of benzene, cooled to 15°, 1ml of a 1.9 molar solution of diisobutylaluminum hydride in hexane isadded dropwise while stirring. Stirring is continued at 15°-20° for 2hours, the mixture cooled to 0° and 0.5 ml of 2N sulfuric acid are addedand stirring is continued at 0° for 15 minutes. The mixture is dilutedwith diethyl ether, washed with water, dried and evaporated, to yieldand acetonide of theα-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-1,1-dioxo-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-acetaldehyde.

The solution of 248 mg thereof in 5 ml of dimethylsulfoxide is addeddropwise to the stirred solution, made from 665 mg of4-carboxybutyl-triphenylphosphonium bromide in 10 ml of dimethylsulfoxide by adding 2 ml of a 1.5 molar solution of sodiummethylsulfinylmethide in dimethylsulfoxide, and stirring the mixture for10 minutes at room temperature. It is poured into water, washed withdiethyl ether, the aqueous layer acidified to pH=3 with 2N sulfuric acidand extracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washed with water,dried and evaporated, to yield the acetonide of the7-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-1,1-dioxo-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-5-cis-heptenoicacid.

The mixture of 200 mg thereof, 2 ml of methanol and 20 mg ofp-toluenesulfonic acid is refluxed for 4 hours and evaporated. Theresidue is taken up in diethyl ether, the solution washed with water,dried and evaporated to yield the7-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-1,1-dioxo-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-5-cis-heptenoicacid. methyl ester.

The mixture of 200 mg thereof, 2 ml of methanol and 20 mg ofp-toluenesulfonic acid is refluxed for 4 hours and evaporated. Theresidue is taken up in diethyl ether, the solution washed with water,dried and evaporated to yield the7-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-1,1-dioxo-tetrahydro-2-thienyl)-5-cis-heptenoicacid methyl ester.

The solution of 290 mg thereof in 2 ml of pyridine is cooled to 0°, 185mg of p-nitrobenzoylchloride are added and the mixture is stirred for 2hours at 0° and 15 hours at room temperature. It is poured into water,extracted with diethyl ether, the extract washed with water, 2N sulfuricacid, water, dried and evaporated, to yield the7-[4-hydroxy-3-(p-nitrobenzoyloxymethyl)-1,1-dioxo-tetrahydro-2-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid methyl ester.

The mixture of 420 mg thereof, 5 ml of methylene chloride, 90 mg ofdihydropyrane and 10 mg of picric acid is stirred at room temperatureovernight. It is diluted with 20 ml of diethyl ether, washed with 10%aqueous bicarbonate, water, dried and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3-(p-nitrobenzoyloxymethyl)-4-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid methyl ester.

The mixture of 500 mg thereof, 5 ml of methanol and 0.5 ml of 10%aqueous potassium carbonate is stirred at room temperature for 15minutes. It is evaporated, the residue taken up in diethyl ether, thesolution washed with water, dried and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3-hydroxymethyl-4-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid methyl ester.

To the solution of 400 mg thereof in 200 ml of methylene chloride, 1.6 gof pyridine-chrominum trioxide complex are added at once and the mixtureis stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. It is washed with water,dried, treated with charcoal, filtered and evaporated. The residue istaken up in 20 ml of diethyl ether, and 1.7 g of1-tri-n-butylphosphoranylidene-3,3-dimethyl-2-heptanone are added whilestirring and the mixture is allowed to stand at room temperatureovernight. It is evaporated, the residue subjected to preparativethin-layer chromotography on silica gel and eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (1:9), to yield as the major fraction the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid methyl ester.

EXAMPLE 17

The solution of 0.5 g of α-[1,1-dioxo-3α-[4,4-dimethyl-3β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-1-trans-oxtenyl]-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-acetaldehydein 5 ml of dimethylsulfoxide is added dropwise with stirring to thesolution, made from 0.665 g of 4-carboxybutyl-triphenylphosphoniumbromide in 10 ml of dimethylsulfoxide by adding 2 ml of a 1.5 molarsolution of sodium methylsulfinylmethide in dimethylsulfoxide, andstirring the mixture for 10 min at room temperature. It is poured intowater, washed with diethyl ether, the aqueous layer acidified to pH=3with 2N sulfuric acid and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract iswashed with water, dried and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in 5ml of glacial acetic acid and 5 ml of water and the mixture is stirredat 45° C. for 2 hours. It is evaporated, the residue taken up in diethylether, the solution washed with water, dried and evaporated, to yieldthe7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-diemthyl-1-transoctenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid, which is identical with that obtained according to Example 16.

The starting material is prepared as follows: To the mixture of 16.4 gof α-bromo-butyrolactone, 14.0 g of mercaptoacetaldehyde diethylacetaland 100 ml of diethyl ether, the solution of 10 g of triethylamine in100 ml of diethyl ether is added dropwise while stirring at roomtemperature. The stirring is continued over night, the mixture filteredand the filtrate evaporated. The residue is dissolved in diethyl ether,the solution washed with water, dried and evaporated to yield theα-(2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-butyrolactone showing in the NMR spectrumbands at 4.55, 2.68 and 1.1 ppm.

To the solution of 2.34 g thereof in 20 ml of toluene, 10.6 ml of 1.4molar diisopropylaluminum hydride in hexane are added dropwise at -70°under nitrogen while stirring. The mixture is stirred at -70° for twohours, 1.8 g of glacial acetic acid are added dropwise and the mixtureis poured into water. It is extracted with diethyl ether, the extractwashed with water, dried, and evaporated. Each gram of the residue ischromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (1:1), to yield the2-hydroxy-3-(2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-tetrahydrofuran, showing in theNMR-spectrum bands of 5.25, 4.55, 7.55 and 2.75 ppm.

The solution of 3.8 g thereof in 5 ml of dimethylsulfoxide is added atonce to the solution made by adding 3.7 g of potassium t-butoxide to thestirred solution of 13.5 g of phenylmercaptomethyl-triphenylphosphoniumchloride in 70 ml of dimethylsulfoxide and stirring the mixture undernitrogen and at room temperature for 10 min. The whole is stirred atroom temperature overnight, poured into water and extracted with diethylether. The extract is washed with water, dried, evaporated and each gramof the residue chromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and eluted withethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:3), to yield the3-(2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-5-phenylmercapto-4-pentenol, showingNMR-bands at 7.28, 6.25, 5.65 and 2.65 ppm.

To the solution of 300 mg thereof in 5 ml of pyridine, 0.5 ml of benzoylchloride are added at once at 0° while stirring. The mixture is stirredat 0° for 2 hours, water is added and the whole is extracted withdiethyl ether. The organic layer is washed with water, N hydrochloricacid, water, 10% aqueous potassium carbonate, again water, dried andevaporated, to yield the corresponding benzoate showing in theNMR-spectrum bands at 4.55, 3.6, 1.7 and 1.25 ppm.

The mixture of 300 mg thereof, 5 ml of glacial acetic acid and 3 ml ofwater is stirred at 50° for 20 hours. It is evaporated, the residuetaken up in diethyl ether, the solution washed with water, dried andevaporated, to yield as an oily, amorphous residue the2β-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydrothiophene-3α-carboxaldehyde,showing in the NMR spectrum bands at 9.75, 8.0, 7.3 and 4.3 ppm.

The mixture of 100 mg thereof, 150 mg of1-tri-n-butyl-phosphoranylidene-3,3-dimethyl-2-heptanone and 1 ml ofdiethyl ether is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. It isevaporated, the residue is chromotographed on 5 g of silica gel andeluted with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:9), to yield the2β-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)-4β-hydroxy-3α-(4,4-dimethyl-3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-tetrahydrothiophene.

The mixture of 200 mg thereof, 5 ml of methylene chloride and 370 mg ofm-chloroperbenzoic acid is stirred at 0° for 5 hours and at roomtemperature for 20 hours. It is diluted with diethyl ether, washed with10% aqueous sodium bisulfite, 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate, water,dried and evaporated, to yield the corresponding 1,1-dioxide.

To the solution of 215 mg thereof in 20 ml of diethyl ether 15 ml ofethereal zinc borohydride (shown in Example 1) are added at roomtemperature while stirring. Stirring is continued for two hours,whereupon 0.1 ml of water are added, followed by 0.5 ml of glacialacetic acid and the mixture is stirred for 5 minutes. It is diluted with50 ml of diethyl ether, washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride,dried and evaporated. The residue is subjected to preparative thin layerchromatography on silica gel and eluted with ethyl acetate-methylenechloride (13:7), and the slower moving fraction isolated, to yield the2β-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)-4β-hydroxy-3α-(4,4-dimethyl-3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-tetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide.

The mixture of 220 mg thereof, 100 mg of dihydropyrane, 5 ml ofmethylene chloride and 10 mg of picric acid is stirred at roomtemperature overnight. It is evaporated, the residue taken up in 0.5 mlof 10% aqueous potassium carbonate and 5 ml of methanol, and the mixtureis stirred at room temperature for two hours. It is diluted with 50 mlof diethyl ether, washed with water twice, dried and evaporated, toyield the2β-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3α-[4,4-dimethyl-3β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-1-trans-octenyl]-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide.

To the solution of 0.5 g thereof in 200 ml of methylene chloride, 1.6 gof pyridine-chromium trioxide complex are added at once and the mixturestirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. It is washed with water,dried, treated with charcoal, filtered and evaporated, to yield theα-[1,1-dioxo-3α-[4,4-dimethyl-3β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-1-trans-octenyl]-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-acetaldehyde.

EXAMPLE 18

The mixture of 200 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-octynyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester, 10 ml of methanol and 10 mg of p-toluenesulfonic acidis allowed to stand at 5° overnight. Then 1 ml of 10% aqueous potassiumcarbonate is added, the mixture allowed to stand at room temperature for20 hours, poured into 10 ml of water and 10 ml of saturated aqueoussodium chloride, the mixture is acidified with N hydrochloric acid topH=3 and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washed with water,dried and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-octynyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid of the formula ##STR30## showing in the I.R.-spectrum bands at2940, 2865 and 1710 cm.sup.⁻¹.

The starting material is prepared as follows: The solution of 400 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-formyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl[-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 5 ml of dry methylne chloride is added dropwise tothe solution made by adding of 1.3 g of triphenylphosphine, dissolved in5 ml of methylene chloride, to the solution of 900 mg oftetrabromo-methane in 50 ml of methylene chloride, cooled at 0°, andstirring the mixture for 2 minutes. The combined mixture is stirred at0° C. for 10 minutes and is washed with saturated aqueous sodiumbicarbonate, dried and evaporated. The residue is triturated withdiethyl ether, filtered and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in asmall amount of diethyl ether, the solution allowed to stand in therefrigerator overnight, filtered and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-4β-(2tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoic acid methyl ester.

To the solution of 550 mg thereof in 5 ml of dry tetra-hydrofuran,cooled to -70° 1.3 ml of 1.6 molar n-butyl-lithium in hexane are addeddropwise under nitrogen while stirring. After 2 hours stirring at -70°the mixture is poured into ice water and extracted with diethyl ether.The extract is dried and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-ethinyl-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoic acid methyl ester.

To the solution 380 mg thereof in 5 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran, 0.7 ml of1.6 molar n-butyl-lithium in hexane are added dropwise at -70° whilestirring. After two minutes 110 mg of n-hexanal are added at once,stirring is continued at -70° for 1/2 hour, the mixture is poured intowater and extracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washed with waterdried and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-octynyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydro-pyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoic acid methylester.

EXAMPLE 19

The solution of 380 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-octynyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid in 0.5 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise to that of 200 mg ofsodium in 10 ml of liquid ammonia at -35°. The mixture is stirred at-30° for 1 hour, solid ammonium nitrate is added to destroy the excessof sodium and the mixture is poured into ice-water. It is acidified topH=3 with 2N hydrochloric acid and extracted with diethyl ether. Theextract is washed with water, dried and evaporated to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoic acid, which is identical with that obtainedaccording to Example 3.

EXAMPLE 20

Preparation of injection ampuls each containing 50 mg of the activeingredient:

    ______________________________________                                        Formula:                                                                      ______________________________________                                        7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-                               octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-                                  thienyl]-heptanoic acid  170      g                                           1,1,1-Trichloro-2-methyl-2-propanol                                                                    85       g                                           Polysorbate 80           85       g                                           Methylcellulose 100 cps  1,785    g                                           Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 70 MV                                                                    51       g                                           Sodium chloride          136      g                                           Water for injection      17       lt.                                         ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The chloropropanol is first dissolved in 13 lt of water at 90°, then thesodium carboxymethylcellulose is added while stirring, followed by themethylcellulose and stirring is continued for 15 minutes. The mixture isallowed to stand at 10° for 12 hours, combined with the polysorbate andthe solution of the sodium chloride and active ingredient in 250 ml ofwater each. The resulting solution is made up to 17 lt with water,filtered through a sintered glass funnel, the filtrate palced into 2 ltsterilized bottles, steam-sterilized at 100° for 3.25 hours and filledinto 5 ml ampuls with standard equipment.

This injectable solution (10⁻ ² g/ml) can be used in the preparation ofan infusion solution, by adding the proper amount thereof to infusionsaline, to obtain a solution containing 10 μg of the active ingredientper ml (10⁻ ⁵ g/ml).

In the analogous manner injection- or infusion-solutions are preparedwith the remaining compounds of the invention, especially thoseillustrated by the previous examples.

EXAMPLE 21

To the solution of 1.19 g of7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-tetrahydropyranyloxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid nitrile in 10 ml of methanol, 80 mg of sodium borohydride are addedin small portions at 0° while stirring for 15 minutes. The mixture isdiluted with diethyl ether, washed with water, brine, dried andevaporated. The residue is dissolved in 20 ml of methanol, 12 ml ofwater and 6 ml of 20% aqueous potassium hydroxide and the mixture heatedat 110° in a sealed tube for 48 hours. It is evaporated, the residue isdissolved in water, the solution neutralized with dry ice and extracted5 times with diethyl ether. The extract is dried, evaporated and theresidue treated with ethereal diazomethane at 0° C. The ether isremoved, the residue dissolved in 10 ml of methylene chloride, thesolution cooled at 0°, 340 mg of m-chloroperbenzoic acid are added andthe mixture stirred at 0° for 4 hours. It is diluted with 50 ml ofdiethyl ether, washed with 1% aqueous sodium bisulfite, water, 10%aqueous potassium bicarbonate, water, dried and evaporated. The residueis dissolved in 10 ml of methanal, 10 mg of p-toluenesulfonic acid areadded and the mixture stirred at room temperature over night. Two dropsof triethylamine are added, the mixture evaporated, the residuesubjected to preparative thin layer chromatography on silica gel andeluted once with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (13:7), to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid methyl ester with Rf=0.342, and the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3α-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoic acid methyl ester with Rf=0.45.

The mixture of 400 mg of the former isomer 10 ml of methanol and 3 ml ofN aqueous sodium hydroxide is stirred at room temperature over night andevaporated. The residue is dissolved in 10 ml of water, the solutiontreated with dry-ice, acidified with N hydrochloric acid and extracted 4times with dimethyl ether, dried and evaporated, to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid melting at 55°-60°. In a similar manner the 3α-hydroxy-isomeryields the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3α-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid melting at 84°-90°.

Analogously the 7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-transoctenyl)-4α-tetrahydropyranyloxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicnitrile yields the 7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3α andβ-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-oxtenyl-4α-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoic acids having an Rf of0.435 and 0.44 on silica gel eluted with benzene-dioxane acetic acid(20:20:1).

The starting material is prepared as follows: To the solution, made byadding dropwise 19 ml of n-butyl lithium in hexane to the solution of 3gof diisopropylamine in 100 ml of tetrahydrofuran while stirring undernitrogen at -30° for 15 minutes and then cooling it to -70°, 7 g ofcarboethoxyethyl-(2,2-diethoxy)-ethylsulfide are added dropwise over aperiod of 4 minutes. After stirring at -70° for 1 hour, 7 g of7-iodo-5-cis-heptenoic acid nitrile are added dropwise during 5 minutes.The mixture is stirred at -70° for 6 hours and allowed to warm up toroom temperature overnight. It is poured into water, extracted withdiethyl ether, the extract washed with water dried and evaporated. Onegram of the residue is chromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and elutedwith ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:19), to yield the ethyl2-(2,2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-8-cyano-4-cis-octenoate showing NNR-bandsat 5.8, 6.55 and 6.15 ppm.

To the solution of 5.4 g thereof in 150 ml of toluene, 15 ml of 1.4molar diisopropylaluminum hydride in hexane is added during 15 minuteswhile stirring at -70° under nitrogen. After 2 hours, 4.2 g of glacialacetic acid are added, the mixture stirred for 15 minutes, poored intowater and extracted twice with diethyl ether. The extract is washed withwater, dried and evaporated, to yield the2-(2,2-diethoxyethyl-mercapto)-8-cyano-4-cis-octenal showing NMR-bandsat 5.4, 6.5 and 1.15 ppm.

The solution of 5 g thereof in 10 ml dimethyl sulfoxide is added at onceto the solution made by adding 13.7 ml of 1.5 molar sodiummethylsulfinylmethide in dimethyl sulfoxide, followed by 8.6 ofphenylmercaptomethyl-triphenylphosphonium chloride in 80 ml ofdimethylsulfoxide. The mixture is stirred under nitrogen at roomtemperature overnight, poured into water and extracted with diethylether. The extract is washed with water, dried, evaporated and each gramof the residue chromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and eluted withethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:24), to yield the8-(2,2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-10-phenylmercapto-5,9-decadienoic acidnitrile showing NMR-bands at 7.4, 5.35 and 4.5 ppm.

The mixture of 1 g thereof, 200 ml of glacial acetic acid, 200 ml ofwater and 0.5 ml of trifluoroacetic acid is stirred at room temperaturefor 48 hours and is evaporated. The residue is taken up in diethylether, the solution washed with water, dried and evaporated, to yieldthe 7-(3α-formyl-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl)-5-cis-heptenoic acidnitrile showing NMR-bands at 5.4, 2.9 and 2.3 ppm.

The solution of 800 mg thereof in 5 ml of 1,2-dimethoxyethane is addedat once to the solution, made by adding dropwise 1.35 g of3,3-dimethyl-2-oxo-heptyl-dimethoxyphosphonate to the suspension of0.228 g of 57% of sodium hydride in mineral oil and 50 ml of1,2-dimethoxyethane, while stirring the mixture under nitrogen for 1/2hour. The mixture is stirred at room temperature overnight, evaporated,the residue taken up in diethyl ether, the solution washed with water,dried, evaporated and each gram of the residue chromatographed on 30 gof silica gel and eluted with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:9), toyield the7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2.beta.-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid nitrile, showing NMR-bands at 6.65, 5.45 and 2.3 ppm.

The mixture of 1.9 g thereof, 500 mg of dihydropyrane, 20 ml ofmethylene chloride and 20 mg of picric acid is stirred at roomtemperature overnight and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed onsilica gel and eluted three times with ethyl acetate-hexane (1:4), toyield the7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-tetrahydropyranyloxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoic acid nitrile with Rf=0.368, and the7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4α-tetrahydropyranyloxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid nitrile with Rf=0.332.

EXAMPLE 22

The solution of 1.28 g of7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-benzoyloxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl)-heptanoicacid nitrile in 125 ml of diethyl ether is treated with an excess ofethereal zinc borohydride for 1/2 hour at room temperature, whereuponsome water and acetic acid are added to destroy the excess of thehydride. The organic layer is separated, washed with water, dried,evaporated, and the residue dissolved in 10 ml of methanol, 6 ml ofwater and 3 ml of 20% aqueous potassium hydroxide. The mixture is heatedin a sealed tube at 110° for 48 hours, evaporated and the residue takenup in water. The solution is treated with dry-ice, acidified with Nhydrochloric acid and extracted 4 times with diethyl ether. The extractis washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried, evaporated andthe residue treated with ethereal diazomethane. The ether is evaporated,the residue dissolved in 20 ml of methylene chloride and the solutiontreated at 0° C. with 710 mg of m-chloroperbenzoic acid for three hours.The mixture is diluted with diethyl ether, washed with 1% aqueous sodiumbisulfite, water, 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate, water, dried andevaporated. The residue is subjected to preparative thinlayerchromatography on silica gel and eluted with ethyl acetate-methylenechloride (13:7), to yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester having Rf=0.28; it is identical with that obtainedaccording to Example 12.

In a similar manner the7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4α-benzoyloxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile gives the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.alpha.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester with Rf=0.32 and its 3α-hydroxy isomer with Rf=0.45.

The mixture of 302 mg of the former isomer, 3 ml of methanol and 1 ml ofN aqueous sodium hydroxide is stirred overnight and evaporated. Theresidue is taken up in water, the solution treated with dry-ice,acidified with N aqueous hydrochloric acid and extracted 4 times withdiethyl ether. The extract is washed with water, dried and evaporated toyield7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid melting at 86-89°.

The starting material is prepared as follows: To the mixture of 13.6 gof methyl 2-bromo-8-cyano-octanoate, 11.6 g of2,2-diethoxy-ethylmercaptan and 150 ml of methylene chloride, 5.56 g oftriethylamine are added dropwise while stirring. Afterovernight-stirring at room temperature the mixture is evaporated, theresidue triturated with diethyl ether, washed with water, dried andevaporated, to yield the methyl2-(2,2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-8-cyano-octanoate showing NMR bands at4.58, 3.71 and 2.75 ppm.

To the stirred solution of 7.31 g thereof in 300 ml of toluene, 33 ml of1.4 molar diisobutyl aluminum hydride in hexane are added dropwiseduring 1/2 hour at -70° under nitrogen and stirring is continued for 2.5hours at -70°. 4.1 g of glacial acetic acid are added dropwise, themixture is stirred for 15 minutes, poured into water and extracted twicewith diethyl ether. The extract is washed with water and saturatedaqueous sodium chloride, dried and evaporated, to yield the2-(2,2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-8-cyano-octanal showing NMR-bands at 9.27,4.5 and 2.3 ppm.

The solution of 6.68 g thereof in 70 ml of dimethylsulfoxide is added atonce to the solution, made by adding 24 ml of 1.5 molar sodiummethylsulfinylmethide in dimethyl sulfoxide to the stirred solution of14 g of phenylmercaptomethyl-triphenylphosphonium chloride in 100 ml ofdimethyl sulfoxide while stirring the mixture under nitrogen and at roomtemperature for 100 minutes. It is stirred at room temperatureovernight, poured into water and extracted with diethyl ether. Theextract is washed with water, dried, evaporated, each gram of theresidue chromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (4:96), to yield the7-(2,2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-9-phenylmercapto 8-nonenoic acid nitrileshowing NMR-bands at 6.41, 6.19, 5.78 and 1.3 ppm.

The mixture of 4.1 g thereof in 1 lt of glacial acetic acid, 1 lt ofwater and 2.5 ml of trifluoroacetic acid is stirred at room temperaturefor 48 hours and evaporated. The residue is taken up in diethyl ether,the solution washed with water, dried and evaporated. 2.26 g of theresidue are added at once to the solution made by adding 4.65 g of2-oxo-3,3-dimethylheptenyl dimethoxyphosphonate to the suspension of 783mg of 57% of sodium hydride in mineral oil and 200 ml of1,2-dimethoxyethane, while stirring the mixture at room temperature for1/2 hour. It is stirred at room temperature overnight, evaporated, theresidue triturated with diethyl ether, washed with water and saturatedaqueous sodium chloride, dried, and evaporated. Each gram of the residueis chromatographed on 30 g of silica gel and eluted with ethylacetate-methylene chloride (1:19), to yield the7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile having Rf=0.19.

The mixture of 2.238 g thereof, 10 ml of pyridine and 960 mg of benzoylchloride is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. 10 ml of water areadded, the mixture extracted with diethyl ether, the extract washed withwater, N aqueous hydrochloric acid, water, 10% aqueous potassiumbicarbonate, dried and evaporated. The residue is subjected topreparative thin-layer chromatography on silica gel and eluted twicewith methylene chloride-ethyl acetate (19:1), to give the7-[3β-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-benzoyloxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl)-heptanoicacid nitrile having Rf=0.300, and the corresponding 4β-isomer havingRf=0.366.

EXAMPLE 23

According to the methods illustrated by the previous examples thefollowing compounds of Formula I are prepared from equivalent amounts ofthe corresponding materials: A=cis-ethylene, R=R₂ =H, R₁ =trans-H,Rf onsilica gel eluted with benzene-dioxane-ethyl acetate (20:20:1)

    ______________________________________                                                     chain                                                            No.  4-OH    3-OH    R.sub.3  x   Rf =                                        ______________________________________                                        1    β  β  (CH.sub.2).sub.4CH.sub.3                                                               0   0.534                                       2    β  α "        0   0.573                                       3    α α "        0   0.530                                       4    α β  "        0   0.533                                       5    β  β  "        2   0.42                                        6    β  α "        2   0.48                                        7    α α "        2   0.40                                        8    α β  "        2   0.45                                        9    β  β  CH(n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.2                                                            2   0.55, m.p. 78-80°                    10   β  α "        2   0.605                                       11   α α "        2   0.525                                       12   α β  "        2   0.565                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 24

Preparation of an inhalation-solution (mist) containing 0.3 mg/ml of theactive ingredient:

    ______________________________________                                        Formula:                                                                      ______________________________________                                        7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-                          1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-                                  2β-thienyl]-heptanoic acid                                                                         0.300    g                                          1,1,1-Trichloro-2-methyl-2-propanol                                                                     3.000    g                                          Physiological saline      1        lt                                         ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The chloropropanol and active ingredient are dissolved each in 400 ml ofthe saline while stirring and heating on the water bath. Both solutionsare combined, allowed to cool to room temperature, made up to one literwith saline, filtered through a sintered glass funnel, the filtratesteam-sterilized at 100° for 31/2 hours and filled into 10 ml sterilenebulizerbottles.

EXAMPLE 25

To the solution of 420 mg ofd-7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(4,4-dimethyl-3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(d-.alpha.-methoxy-phenylacetoxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 4 ml of tetrahydrofuran and 10 ml of diethyl ether,7 ml of 0.145 Molar solution of zinc borohydride in ether are added atroom temperature while stirring. After stirring for 1/2 hour at roomtemperature 0.5 ml of water and 0.5 ml of acetic acid are added and themixture is stirred for additional 15 minutes. It is extracted withdiethyl ether, the extract dried, evaporated, and the residue is takenin 10 ml of methanol. To the methanolic solution, 0.4 ml of 10% aqueouspotassium carbonate are added while stirring. After stirring 15 minutesat room temperature the mixture is extracted with ether, the extractdried, evaporated and the residue subjected to preparative thin-layerchromatography on silica gel and eluted with ethyl acetate-methylenechloride (7:3) to yield the slower moving member l-7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(4,4-dimethyl-3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester having Rf=0.306.

The faster moving d-3α-hydroxy-isomer thereof has Rf=0.45.

Said esters are hydrolized as previously described to yield thecorresponding acids:

3β---OH: m.p. 80°-84°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) = -12.70°/Yield 55%

3α--OH: m.p. 75°-85°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) = +24.25°/Yield 35%

The starting material is prepared as follows: The mixture of 23.6 g of8-carbomethoxyoctanal, 12 g of morpholine and 150 ml of benzene isrefluxed for one hour while removing the water with the use of aDean-Stark apparatus. The benzene was removed by distillation undervacuum, the residue is disolved in 13 lit. of methylene chloride and thesolution is cooled to -25°. To this mixture, a solution of 21.9 g ofbromine and 100 ml of methylene chloride is added dropwise whilestirring. After stirring at -25° for 1/2 hour the mixture is warmed upto -5°, 350 ml of water are added and the mixture is stirred for twohours. The organic layer is separated, dried and evaporated. The residueis dissolved in 200 ml of methylene chloride, 30 g ofmercaptoacetaldehyde diethyl acetal and 19 ml of triethyl amine areadded and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 20 hours. It iswashed with water, dried and evaporated to give2-(2,2-diethoxyethylmercapto-8-carbomethoxyoctanal showing NMR-bands at9.15, 4.45 and 3.55 ppm.

The solution of 19.4 g thereof in 20 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added tothe mixture made by adding dropwise at -60° 36 ml of 1.6 molar n-butyllithium in hexane to the solution of 15.1 g of phenylthiomethyl-diethoxyphosphonate in 150 ml of tetrahydrofuran and stirring the mixture at-60° for 15 minutes. The mixture is warmed up to 0° and kept at thistemperature for 24 hours. It is diluted with diethyl ether washed withwater, dried and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on silicagel using methylene chloride as eluant to give8-(2,2-diethoxyethylmercapto)-10-phenylmercapto-5,9-decadienoic acidmethyl ester showing NMR-bands at 7.2, 5.35 and 4.5 ppm.

The mixture of 5.9 g thereof, 1 lit of glacial acetic acid, 700 ml ofwater and 2.5 ml of trifluoroacetic acid is stirred at room temperaturefor 72 hours and is evaporated. The residue is taken up in diethylether, the solution washed with water, dried and evaporated, to yieldthe 7-(3α-formyl-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl)-heptanoic acid methylester showing NMR-bands at 9.7, 2.8 and 1.4 ppm.

The solution of 10.8 g thereof in 50 ml of 1,2-dimethoxyethane is addedat once to the solution, made by adding dropwise 19.7 g of3,3-dimethyl-2-oxo-heptyl dimethoxyphosphonate to the suspension of 1.88g of 50% of sodium hydride in mineral oil and 500 ml of 1,2-dimethoxyethane while stirring the mixture under nitrogen for 1/2 hour. Themixture is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, evaporated, theresidue is taken up in diethyl ether, the solution washed with water,dried and evaporated and each gram of the residue chromatographed on 30g of silica gel and eluted with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride (1:9)to yield the7-[3α-(3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2.beta.-thienyl]heptanoic acid methyl ester showing NMR-bands at 3.5, 2.2 and 1.2 ppm.

To the solution of 1 g thereof in 20 ml of methylene chloride, 1.5 gr of85% m-chloroperbenzoic acid is added at once, at 0° with stirring. Themixture is stirred at 0° for 5 hours and then at room temperature for 15hours. It is diluted with diethyl ether and washed with 10% aqueoussodium bisulfite water, 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate, water, driedand evaporated to give7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(4,4-dimethyl-3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4-hydroxytetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester showing NMR-bands at 6.58, 3.58 and 2.25 ppm.

The mixture of 1.1 gr thereof 250 mg of dihydropyrane, 30 mg of picricacid and 7 ml of methylene chloride is stirred at room temperature for24 hours. The mixture is diluted with 20 ml of tetrahydrofuran-diethylether (1:3), washed with 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate, water, driedand evaporated. The residue is recrystallized from diethyl ether-hexaneto yield the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(4,4-dimethyl-3-oxo-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester having mp 102°-104° C.

The mixture of 280 mg thereof, 10 ml of methanol, 1 ml oftetrahydrofuran and 30 mg of p-toluenesulfonic acid is stirred at roomtemperature overnight. It is diluted with 20 ml of diethylether, washedwith water, dried and evaporated to give the 4β-hydroxy compound havingNMR-bands at 6.5, 3.5 and 1.2 ppm.

To the solution of 250 mg thereof in 5 ml of pyridine, 1 g ofd-α-methoxy-phenylacetyl chloride are added dropwise at 0° whilestirring, and stirring continued for 5 hours at room temperature. Themixture is treated with 1 ml of water, diluted with 20 ml of diethylether, washed with water, 0.5 N hydrochloric acid and again with water,dried and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on silica gelplates (1 mm thick) and eluted with ethyl acetate-methylene chloride(9:1) to yield as the slower moving fraction thed-7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(4,4-dimethyl-3-oxo-1-transoctenyl)-4β-(3-.alpha.-methoxy-phenylacetoxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester having R_(f) =0.23, m.p. 59°-64° (from diethylether-hexane) and [α]₂₅ ^(D) = +34.42

The faster moving l-diastereoisomer with R_(f) =0.3 m.p. 99°-100° and[α]₂₅ ^(D) = -4.48 is analogously reduced and hydrolyzed to yield thecorresponding 3α- and β-hydroxy acids:

3α-OH acid: m.p. 75°-80°; [α]₂₅ ^(D) = +14.26

3β-oh acid: [α]₂₅ ^(D) = -13.5°

EXAMPLE 26

To the solution of 4.98 g of7-[3α-(3-oxo-1-transdecenyl)-4β-(o-chlorobenzoyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile in 200 ml of ether 76 ml of 0.011 Molar solution of zincborohydride in ether is added dropwise and the mixture is stirred atroom temperature for 1 hour. Water and glacial acetic acid are addeddropwise, the organic layer is washed with water dried and evaporated.The residue is dissolved in 50 ml of methanol, 14.1 ml of 1 N aqueoussodium hydroxide are added and the mixture is stirred at roomtemperature for one hour and evaporated. The residue is extracted withdiethyl ether, washed with water, dried and evaporated. Each gram of theresidue is chromatographed from 50 g of silica gel using ethylacetate-methylene chloride (7:3) as eluant to give the faster moving7-[3α-(3α-hydroxy-1-transdecenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile showing IR-bands at 1050, 2245, 3400 and 3555 cm⁻ ¹ and theslower moving7-[3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-decenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile having m.p. 60° C.

Said nitriles are hydrolyzed as previously described to yield thecorresponding acids:

3β-OH; m.p. 85°-87° C.; yield 58%

3α-OH: m.p. 57°-59° C.; yield 40%

The starting material is prepared as follows: 54 g of 7-iodoheptanoicacid nitrile is added dropwise and with stirring at -60° to a solutionmade by adding dropwise and with stirring at -60°, 53.7 g of ethyl2,2-diethoxyethylmercaptoacetate to a suspension of 9 g of sodium amidein 200 ml of ammonia and allowing the mixture to stir at -60° for 1hour. The mixture is stirred at -60° for one hour and then allowed towarm up slowly to room temperature overnight. The mixture is dilutedwith 200 ml of water and extracted with diethyl ether. The extractsdried and evaporated and the residue is distilled under vacuum to givethe 2-[2,2-diethoxy ethyl-mercapto]-8-cyano octanoic acid ethyl esterhaving boiling point 173°-176° C. at 0.1 mm/Hg.

The mixture of 38 g thereof, 10 g of potassium hydroxide, 100 ml ofwater and 10 ml of ethanol is stirred at room temperature overnight. Themixture is extracted with ether, the aqueous layer is treated with dryice and acidified to pH=3 with 2 N aqueous hydrochloric acid andextracted with diethyl ether. The extract is dried and evaporated togive the 2-(2,2-diethoxy ethyl mercapto)-8-cyanooctanoic acid showingNMR-bands at 4.6, 2.3 and 1.19 ppm.

To the mixture of 25.3 g thereof 26.2 g of imidazole and 200 ml oftetrahydrofuran is added dropwise with stirring a solution of 11.5 g ofthionyl chloride in 120 ml of tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is stirredfor 15 minutes 120 ml of dry diethyl ether are added and filtered. Thefiltrates are evaporated under vacuum, the residue is taken in 400 ml ofdry diethyl ether and decolorized with charcoal and filtered. Thefiltrate is added at once to a stirred suspension of 1.83 g of lithiumaluminum hydride in 400 ml of diethyl ether at -50°. The stirring iscontinued for 1 hour while maintaining the temperature below 0° C. Tothe mixture, 25 ml of glacial acetic acid is added dropwise followed by300 ml of water and the layers are separated. The ether layer is driedand evaporated and each gram of the residue is chromatographed from 5 grof silica gel using methylene chloride as eluant to give 2-(2,2-diethoxyethyl mercapto)-8-cyano-octanol, which was converted to 7-(2,2-diethoxyethyl mercapto)-9-phenylmercapto-8-nonenoic acid nitrile, as previouslydescribed in example 22.

The mixture of 8.9 g thereof 900 ml of glacial acetic acid, 350 ml ofwater and 9.5 ml of trifluoro acetic acid is stirred at room temperaturefor 72 hours and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in diethyl ether,washed with water, 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate dried andevaporated. The residue is added to a mixture made by adding dropwise10.1 g of 2-oxo-nonyldimethoxyphosphonate to a suspension of 1.9 g of50% sodium hydride in mineral oil and stirring the mixture at roomtemperature for 1/2 hours. The mixture is stirred at room temperaturefor one hour and evaporated. The residue is extracted with ether, washedwith water, dried and evaporated. Each gram of the residue ischromatographed from 30 grams of silica gel using ethylacetate-methylene chloride (1:9) as eluant to give7-[3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-decenyl)-4-hydroxytetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile showing NMR-bands at 2.4, 1.4 and 0.9 ppm.

To the solution of 3.87 g thereof in 15 ml of pyridine 2.12 g ofo-chloro benzoyl chloride is added dropwise with stirring at 0°. Themixture is stirred at room temperature for two hours, water is added andextracted with diethyl ether. The extract is washed with water 2Naqueous hydrochloric acid, again with water dried and evaporated. Eachgram of the residue is chromatographed from 50 g of silica gel usingethyl acetate methylene chloride (5:95) as eluant to give the fastermoving7-[3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-decenyl)-4α-(o-chlorobenzoyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile, showing NMR bands at 7.35, 5.4 and 1.25 ppm and the slowermoving7-[3α-(3-oxo-1-trans-decenyl)-4β-(o-chlorobenzoyloxy)-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid nitrile showing NMR-bands at 7.0, 5.5 and 0.85 ppm.

EXAMPLE 27

To the solution of 350 g of7-[3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-transoctenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2.beta.-thienyl-heptanoicacid in 10 ml of dry methylene chloride 260 mg of m-chloroperbenzoicacid are added at 0° with stirring. The stirring is continued at 0° for2 hours, the mixture is diluted with diethyl ether washed with 10%aqueous sodium bisulfite, water, dried and evaporated. The residue ischromatographed on 10 g of silica gel using ethyl acetate methylenechloride (4:1) as eluent and gives the corresponding1,1-dioxo-2β-thienyl heptanoic acid described in Example 3 (yield 85%).

EXAMPLE 28

To the solution of 370 mg of7-[1-oxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid in 10 ml of dry methylene chloride 175 mg of m-chloroperbenzoicacid are added at 0° with stirring. The stirring is continued for 3hours at 0°. The mixture is diluted with diethyl ether and washed with10% aqueous sodium bisulfite, water, dried and evaporated. The residueis chromotagraphed from 10 g of silica gel using ethyl acetate:methylene chloride (4:1) as eluant and corresponding acid described inExample 3, yield 90%.

EXAMPLE 29

According to the methods illustrated by the previous examples thefollowing compounds of Formula I are prepared from equivalent amounts ofthe corresponding starting materials R=R₁ =R₂ =H:

    __________________________________________________________________________           Chain                         Yield                                    No.                                                                              4-OH                                                                              3-OH                                                                              A      R.sub.3    x Rf = m.p.                                                                           %                                        __________________________________________________________________________    1  β                                                                            β                                                                            CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2                                                                    (CH.sub.2).sub.6 CH.sub.3                                                                0 r.sub.f = .558                                                                      55                                       2  β                                                                            α                                                                           "      "          0 r.sub.f = .590                                                                      35                                       3  α                                                                           α                                                                           "      "          0 r.sub.f = .539                                                                      51                                                                      85-87° C                                4  α                                                                           β                                                                            "      "          0 r.sub.f = .557                                                                      45                                                                      57-59° C                                5  β                                                                            β                                                                            "                                                                                     ##STR31## 0 r.sub.f = .612                                                                      58                                       6  β                                                                            α                                                                           "      "          0 r.sub.f = .643                                                                      30                                       7  α                                                                           α                                                                           "      "          0 0.551 52                                       8  α                                                                           β                                                                            "      "          0 0.585 45                                       9  β                                                                            β                                                                            "                                                                                     ##STR32## 0 0.526 50                                       10 β                                                                            α                                                                           "      "          0 0.538 30                                       11 α                                                                           β                                                                            "      "          0 0.519 49                                       12 α                                                                           α                                                                           "      "          0 0.488 28                                       13 β                                                                            β                                                                            Cis-CHCH                                                                             (CH.sub.2).sub.6 CH.sub.3                                                                0 0.53  55                                       14 β                                                                            α                                                                           "      "          0 0.55  35                                       15 α                                                                           α                                                                           "      "          0 0.543 45                                       16 α                                                                           β                                                                            "      "          0 0.583 35                                       17 β                                                                            β                                                                            "      "          2       25                                                                      73-76°                                  18 β                                                                            β                                                                            "                                                                                     ##STR33## 0 0.567 56                                       19 β                                                                            α                                                                           "      "          0 0.601 35                                       20 α                                                                           α                                                                           "      "          0 0.581 49                                       21 α                                                                           β                                                                            "      "          0 0.608 30                                       22 β                                                                            β                                                                            CH.sub.2                                                                             "          2 0.489                                          23 β                                                                            α                                                                           "      "          2 0.550                                          24 α                                                                           α                                                                           "      "          2 0.460                                          25 β                                                                            β                                                                            "      "          2 0.545                                          26 β                                                                            β                                                                            (CH.sub.2).sub.2                                                                     CH[(CH.sub.2).sub.3 CH.sub.3 ].sub.2                                                     2 0.437                                          27 β                                                                            α                                                                           "      "          2 0.500                                          28 α                                                                           α                                                                           "      "          2 0.585                                          29 α                                                                           β                                                                            "      "          2 0.690                                          30 α                                                                           α                                                                           "      n-C.sub.5 H.sub.13                                                                       2 0.416                                          __________________________________________________________________________     Rf's are measured on silica gel plates eluted with benzene-dioxane acetic     acid (2:2:0.1).                                                          

EXAMPLE 30

The solution of 200 mg of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester in 10 ml of ethanol is hydrogenated over 30 mg of 5%palladium on charcoal at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Thecatalyst is filtered off and the filtrate evaporated. The residue isdissolved in 10 ml of methanol and heated overnight at room temperaturewith 2 ml of N aqueous sodium hydroxide. The mixture is evaporated, theresidue dissolved in 10 ml of water and the solution acidified with Nhydrochloric acid. It is extracted with diethyl ether, the extract driedand evaporated, to yield the 1,2-dihydro-derivative of said compoundhaving R_(f) =0.540 on silica gel eluted with benzene-dioxane-aceticacid (2:2:0.1).

The similarly obtained 3α-hydroxyisomer thereof has R_(f) =0.550.

EXAMPLE 31

The mixture of 1.02 g of7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid methyl ester, 596 mg of dihydropyrane, 50 mg of picric acid and 50ml of methylene chloride is stirred at room temperature overnight. It iswashed with 10% aqueous potassium bicarbonate, water, dried andevaporated. The residue is dissolved in methanol and the solution heatedwith 5 ml of N aqueous sodium hydroxide. After stirring overnight thesolution is evaporated, the residue dissolved in 5 ml of water and 5 mlsaturated aqueous sodium chloride, the mixture treated with dry-ice andextracted with diethyl ether. The extract is dried, evaporated, theresidue dissolved in 80 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran and to the solution350 ml of diethyl azodicarboxylate in 12 ml of tetrahydrofuran, 535 mgof triphenylphosphine and 230 mg of n-octanol, each in 12 ml oftetrahydrofuran, are added. The mixture is stirred at room temperatureovernight, diluted with diethyl ether and washed with water andsaturated aqueous sodium chloride. It is dried, evaporated, the residuedissolved in 8 ml of 60% aqueous acetic acid and the mixture stirred atroom temperature over night. It is evaporated, the residue extractedwith diethyl ether, the extract washed with water and 10% aqueouspotassium bicarbonate, dried and evaporated. The residue is subjected tothin layer chromatography on silica gel, using ethyl acetate-methylenechloride (4:1) as eluant, to give the corresponding n-octyl ester havingR_(f) =0.236.

I claim:
 1. A 7-[3-hydroxy-3-hydrocarbylpropyl or -1-propenorynyl)-4-hyroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-alkanoic or 5-alkenoic acid of theformula ##STR34## wherein R is hydrogen, an alkali metal, one equivalentof an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, mono-, di- or tri-loweralkylammonium, alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, lower alkenyl, loweralkynyl, Ph or Ph-C_(n) H_(2n), wherein Ph is phenyl, (loweralkyl)-phenyl, (halogeno)-phenyl or (trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, and n isan integer from 1 to 4, A is ethylene or ethenylene, each of R₁ and R₂is hydrogen or lower alkyl and R₃ is alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms,lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl, or the 1,2-dihydroderivatives or1,2-dehydro-derivatives thereof.
 2. A compound as claimed in claim 1, inwhich formula the hydroxy groups are 3α, 4α or 3β, 4β and R is hydrogen,sodium, potassium, lower alkyl or Ph'--C_(n) H_(2n) wherein n is aninteger from 1 to 4 and Ph' is phenyl, tolyl, fluorophenyl orchlorophenyl, A is ethylene or cis-ethenylene, each of R₁ and R₂ arehydrogen or lower alkyl, and R₃ is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, loweralkynyl or.
 3. A compound as claimed in claim 1 and corresponding to theformula ##STR35## wherein R₄ is hydrogen, sodium, potassium or alkylwith up to 4 carbon atoms, A is ethylene or cis-ethylene, R₅ is hydrogenor methyl, R₆ is n-(butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl) or2-methyl-2n-(pentyl, hexyl or heptyl),
 2. 4. A compound as claimed inclaim 3, in which formula R₄ is hydrogen, sodium or potassium, A isethylene or cis-ethenylene, R₅ is hydrogen or methyl, and R₆ isn-pentyl, n-hexyl or 2-methyl-2-n-hexyl or.
 5. A compound as claimed inclaim 3 and being the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-1-trans-octenyl)-4β-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid.
 6. A compound as claimed in claim 3 and being the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-heptanoicacid.
 7. A compound as claimed in claim 3 and being the7-[1,1-dioxo-3α-(3β-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-trans-octenyl)-4.beta.-hydroxy-tetrahydro-2β-thienyl]-5-cis-heptenoicacid.